Austria's Eurofighters were used to help protect the airspace around football stadiums during the Euro 2008 championships. Air policing is the only role the fighter is permitted to undertake, in line with a decision made by the country's politicians in 2001.

Austria's Eurofighters are based at Zeltweg, where €100 million is being spent on the infrastructure to better accommodate the new fighter, including 12 drive-through hangars. Two Eurofighters are pictured there, about to depart on an air police training sortie.

To cover the gap between the retirement of Austria's Drakens and the introduction of the Eurofighter, 12 F-5Es were leased from Switzerland. The Swiss would only provide the aircraft until June 30 this year. As a result the Eurofighter had to take over from July 1.