Aircraft
EADS and Eurofighter Investigated Over Alleged Bribes to Secure Typhoon Sale to Austria
Austrian air force chief Maj. Gen. Erich Wolf (center) with Eurofighter officials and a full-scale model of the aircraft at Zeltweg airbase in 2005. Wolf later resigned following allegations that his wife was connected to a lobbyist in Austria for EADS. (Photo: Chris Pocock)
Austrian air force chief Maj. Gen. Erich Wolf (center) with Eurofighter officials and a full-scale model of the aircraft at Zeltweg airbase in 2005. Wolf later resigned following allegations that his wife was connected to a lobbyist in Austria for EADS. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

German police raided offices belonging to EADS and Eurofighter in the Munich area on November 7, in connection with the long-controversial sale of Eurofighter jets to Austria. A public prosecutor said that the raids were prompted by information from Austria. Last September, an Austrian magazine reported that government prosecutors in Vienna suspected that EADS had made up to €100 million available to lobbyists there. The magazine quoted court documents alleging that a complex network of companies had been set up to bribe businesses and civil servants.