It is thought that Germany had objected to the use of the name Typhoon, which was to have been officially announced at a news conference in London last March.

The conference was cancelled at the last minute.

Typhoon will only be used for the export market for the aircraft, which is being produced by Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Orders

The partner countries will continue to use the name Eurofighter within Europe.

The name was officially announced at British Aerospace's headquarters at Farnborough in Hampshire, shortly before the aircraft put on a flying display.

The RAF has ordered 232 Eurofighters. The UK Government has invested around £15bn in the project, which will safeguard 80,000 jobs.

Rolls Royce is behind Eurofighter's jet engines

European member countries are taking 620 of the aircraft.

Partner countries foresee a global market during the next three decades of more than 800 combat aircraft, worth £70bn.

They are aiming to capture around 50% of the market for fighter jets.

Brian Phillipson, managing director of the Eurofighter company, said: "We have the right product, which will be coming on to the market at just the right time, and we are superbly positioned to meet emerging customer requirements around the world.

"The combination of Typhoon's outstanding multi-role capabilities, with its low acquisition and through-life costs make it a very attractive option for airforces worldwide.

"We are very confident of winning substantial export orders over the next 20 years."

Almost 200 British companies, led by British Aerospace, are involved in the development of Eurofighter.

It will be assembled at BAe's site in Lancashire from components manufactured by companies in the four-partner nations.

The original Typhoon bombed Germany

Rolls-Royce will manufacture the engines, primarily at plants in Bristol and Derby.

Eurofighter is equipped for worldwide operations.

The original Typhoon was a WWII ground attack fighter.

It destroyed German tanks and artillery, playing a big part in the D-Day landings in 1944.