The application of AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings' Aerowave® to the first Eurofighter EF2000 recently took place at Cassadian in Germany. The usage of the water based and chrome free system Aerowave® 2002 and Aerowave® 5001 at Cassadian follows several years of preparation and shop trials to qualify.

Aerowave® 5001 is a two-component, waterborne polyurethane finish which is flexible and easy to mix, offering less labour intensive requirements. The product provides good substrate wetting properties along with exceptional sag resistance with a layer thickness of only 15-20 ?m (45-50 ?m wet). Aerowave 5001, approved to specification R40-6309 is a Chemical Agent Resistant (CARC) topcoat, available in a range of camouflage colours, suited to the defence industry.

The Aerowave® range is fully REACH compliant waterborne technology, with all the associated structural products surpassing the traditional issues associated with older waterborne technologies: easy to mix, easy to apply and quick to dry, whilst being energy efficient.

Cassadian are delighted with the approval news and very satisfied with the end result; according to Cassadian Manching there will be "no way back"; all future Eurofighters produced in Manching will be applied using this system.