Editing Eurofighter Typhoon (section)

===Airframe overview===
[[File:Eurofighter 9803.ogg|thumb|left|thumbtime=32|Typhoon flight demonstration]]

The Typhoon is a highly agile aircraft at all speeds, subsonic and supersonic, achieved by having intentionally [[relaxed stability]]. The quadruplex digital [[fly-by-wire]] control system manages the inherent instability, allowing better manoeuvrability than direct pilot control. It is described as "carefree", and prevents the permitted manoeuvre envelope being exceeded. Roll control is primarily achieved by use of the ailerons. Pitch control is by operation of the canards and ailerons, because the canards disturb airflow to inner elevons (flaps). The yaw control is done by a large, single rudder.<ref name="AERPERF" /> Engines are fed by a chin double [[intake ramp]] situated below a [[Splitter plate (aeronautics)|splitter plate]].
The Typhoon uses lightweight construction (82% composites consisting of 70% [[carbon fibre]] [[composite material]]s and 12% [[glass fibre]] reinforced composites) with an estimated lifespan of 6,000 flying hours.<ref name="MATER" /><ref name="HRS" />

====Radar signature reduction features====
[[File:Eurofighter EFA-2000 Typhoon DA1 98+29 Intake DMFO 10June2013 (14563817746).jpg|thumb|[[S-duct]]-like air intake partially conceals engine fans, a major source of radar wave reflection]]

Although it was not designated a [[Stealth aircraft|stealth fighter]], measures were taken to reduce the Typhoon's [[radar cross section]] (RCS), especially from the frontal aspect. For example, the Typhoon has jet inlets that conceal the front of the engines, a strong radar target, from radar. Many important potential radar targets, such as the wing, canard and fin leading edges, are highly swept so they will reflect radar energy well away from the front.<ref>Richardson 2001, p. 113.</ref> Some external weapons are mounted semi-recessed into the aircraft, partially shielding them from incoming radar.<ref name="structure" /> In addition [[radar-absorbent material]]s (RAM), developed primarily by [[Airbus|EADS]]/DASA, coat many of the most significant reflectors, such as the wing leading edges, the intake edges and interior, the rudder surrounds, and strakes.<ref name="structure" />

The manufacturers carried out tests on the early Eurofighter prototypes to optimise the low observability characteristics of the aircraft from the early 1990s. Testing at Warton on the DA4 prototype measured the RCS of the aircraft and investigated the effects of a variety of RAM coatings and composites.<ref name="iarpdf" />{{failed verification|date=June 2022}} Passive sensors (PIRATE IRST), which minimise the radiation of revealing electronic emissions, also reduce the likelihood of discovery. While canards generally have poor stealth characteristics from side because of corner to hull,<ref name="STECAN" /> the flight control system is designed to maintain the elevon trim and canards at an angle at which they have the smallest RCS.<ref name="STECAN2" />