Eurofighter Typhoon

[Ian33]

Typhoons have always had the option of LERX since the 2007 test. The benefits have already been proven.

 

[Triton]

Published on Feb 25, 2015

A news feature from British Forces Broadcast Service on Typhoon's improving multi-role capabilities. Discussing the latest Stormshadow missile upgrades, Will Inglis visited our Warton site to discuss these new features with our pilots and Andy Flynn, head of Typhoon capability.

https://youtu.be/fAtCtCOnkEs

 

[Triton]

"Kuwait Opts For Eurofighter Typhoon"
Tony Osborne | Aviation Week & Space Technology
Sep 11, 2015

Source:
http://aviationweek.com/defense/kuwait-opts-eurofighter-typhoon

LONDON – Kuwait has selected the Eurofighter Typhoon as the country’s next-generation fighter, marking the first success of the aircraft in open competition.

The Kuwaiti government signed agreements in Rome to purchase 28 of the fighters as part of a government-to-government deal valued at €7-8 billion ($7.9-9.05 billion).

The deal will be the first Typhoon export contract negotiated by Italy’s Finmeccanica/Alenia Aermacchi, who have the lead in marketing the aircraft to the Middle Eastern state.

Sources close to the deal have told Aviation Week that Kuwait’s Typhoons will be Tranche 3 aircraft and will likely be the first export aircraft fitted with the Captor-E electronically scanned array radar.

Kuwait will purchase 22 single-seat jets and six twin-seat aircraft to replace its aging fleet of Boeing F/A-18C/D legacy Hornets, which were purchased in the aftermath of the first Gulf War in 1991. Deliveries are expected starting in 2019.

The deal includes a large logistics package and infrastructure work to prepare the Typhoon’s future operating base at Ahmed Al Jaber. The deal also includes training for aircrew and ground crew in Italy. Italy already trains a large number of Kuwaiti pilots, however the new program will extend to Operational Conversion Unit-level training at Grosseto in central Italy.

Sources also have said the deal includes a level of “co-operational support” that will cover areas such as electronic warfare capability.
Confirming the news, Alberto Gutierrez, CEO of the Eurofighter consortium, said: “This new agreement is the confirmation of the superiority of the Eurofighter over its competitors and will provide a great opportunity for further Eurofighter orders.

The deal came as the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah visited Rome to meet with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi.

The news will be hugely welcomed by the Eurofighter consortium industry partners — Airbus Defense and Space, BAE Systems and Finmeccanica — who have watched the Typhoon’s main competitor, France’s Dassault Rafale, enjoy a wave of orders from Egypt, India and Qatar this year.

The Eurofighter consortium remains optimistic about a follow-on order from Saudi Arabia and potentially an order from Bahrain, although prospects may have decreased as a result of the slump in oil prices. Oman ordered the Typhoon at the end of 2012.

 

[Triton]

"Italy, Kuwait Agree Eurofighter Typhoon Combat Jet Sale"
Important breakthrough for Eurofighter consortium after series of losses in foreign markets
by Robert Wall
Updated Sept. 11, 2015 1:22 p.m. ET

LONDON—The Italian and Kuwaiti governments have struck an agreement over the sale of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets, as the Middle East country seeks to follow neighbors in modernizing its air force, the plane maker said Friday.

“We are delighted to welcome Kuwait as the newest member of our Eurofighter Typhoon family,” said Alberto Gutierrez, chief executive of the Eurofighter consortium.

The deal, involving the newest version of the Typhoon jet, would comprise 22 single-side jets and six dual-seat planes, a Eurofighter official said.

Officials for the Kuwaiti government couldn’t immediately be reached for comment outside of normal office hours in the country. The Italian government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kuwait, which has a fleet of 39 older-model Boeing Co. F/A-18 Hornet jets, has been evaluating replacement options for about two years. Kuwait also has evaluated other fighters and considered buying Boeing’s newer F/A-18 Super Hornet. The Chicago-based plane maker faces dwindling chances for overseas sales of the Super Hornet operated by the U.S. Navy and Australia.

The Kuwait deal is an important breakthrough for the Eurofighter consortium, which includes Finmeccanica SpA, BAE Systems PLC and Airbus Group SE, after a series of losses in foreign markets. Japan, South Korea and India opted for other planes over the Typhoon.

Middle East governments have sealed a flurry of combat jet purchases in recent years. In May, Qatar said it would buy 36 fighter planes from France’s Dassault Aviation SA . The deal came after Egypt agreed to become the first export customer for the French Rafale jet.

Military tension between the Gulf states and Iran, along with the rise of Islamic State, has heightened interest among countries in the region to bolster their armed forces.

The Typhoon is already operational in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia bought the plane through a deal with the U.K. and is considering taking more. Oman also has signed up to introduce the jet.

Mr. Gutierrez said the deal with Kuwait “will provide a great opportunity for further Eurofighter orders.”

Countries involved in the Eurofighter program split responsibility for export drives of the plane, with Italy in charge of the Kuwait push. The Wall Street Journal first reported in June that the Italian and Kuwaiti governments had begun contract negotiations over the deal.

The Kuwait agreement is important for the Eurofighter consortium also to keep production humming beyond the end of the decade. BAE Systems officials have said that the rate of Typhoon production may have to be slowed without additional export deals to avoid a production shutdown. Current orders would see production of the twin-engine fighter plane at BAE Systems cease in early 2018.

 

[Triton]

"Kuwait To Purchase 28 Typhoons"
By Andrew Chuter 11:30 a.m. EDT September 11, 2015

Source:
http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2015/09/11/kuwait-purchase-28-typhoons/72059404/

ROME — Kuwait has agreed to purchase 28 Typhoon combat jets in a multibillion euro deal with the Italian government, industry sources in the region said Friday.

The deal is still in negotiation but Kuwait has agreed to buy 22 single seat and six twin-seat Typhoons in a government-to-government agreement.

Italian firm Finmeccanica's Alenia Aermacchi division has been leading the Eurofighter effort to sell the Typhoon to the Kuwaitis.

Industry sources said the deal could see the Kuwaitis be the first export customer for the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar being developed for the jet by Italy's Selex ES.

One industry executive said the agreement is welcome, not least because after a flurry of Middle Eastern successes this year for French rival Dassault with the Rafale, the Kuwaiti decision "reinvigorates other opportunities in the gulf region for Typhoon."

France secured deals for the Rafale in Qatar and Egypt earlier this year and deliveries to Cairo are underway.

Saudi Arabia and Oman are already Typhoon customers in the region. The Saudis have been talking about a further buy of the jets and Bahrain is also another potential customer.

News that the two governments have been in detailed discussions over the sale has been circulating since midyear. The deal follows reports in May that the Kuwaitis were in discussions with the US to purchase up to 40 Boeing F/A-18 fighters.

The position on those negotiations is unknown, although there has been some speculation in the past that the Kuwaitis could go for a split buy.

A US source acknowledged there is always a chance for a split buy from Kuwait, and said talks on a Super Hornet sale to Kuwait are still moving forward.

While declining to name Kuwait specifically, a Boeing spokeswoman said the company and the US government are still in conversation with potential Middle Eastern customers.

 

[Grey Havoc]

On a related note: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11866000/New-fighter-pilot-helmet-removes-need-for-night-vision.html

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2016/04/04/kuwait-may-finalize-eurofighter-deal-source-says/82610114/

 

[BillG]

That's good news and they get the new aesa radar too.

 

[kaiserd]

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2016/04/04/kuwait-may-finalize-eurofighter-deal-source-says/82610114/

Returning the favour, confirmation deal signed:
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2016/04/05/kuwait-signs-eurofighter-deal/82647386/

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2016/04/04/kuwait-may-finalize-eurofighter-deal-source-says/82610114/

Returning the favour, confirmation deal signed:
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2016/04/05/kuwait-signs-eurofighter-deal/82647386/

Kuwait has ordered its aircraft equipped with an electronically scanned radar, which is being developed for the aircraft but has yet to be adopted by Eurofighters operated by the four launch partners on the program — Italy, the UK, Germany and Spain.

The radar is being developed by the European EuroRADAR consortium which is led by Finmeccanica.

 

[Triton]

"Austria set to replace Eurofighter Typhoons"
By: Sebastian Sprenger   July 7

Source:
http://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/07/07/austria-set-to-replace-eurofighter-typhoons/

COLOGNE, Germany — Austria is set to replace the small fleet of fighter jets to patrol its airspace following an announcement today that the collection of Eurofighter Typhoons and Saab 105 OE aircraft would be phased out.

Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil's decision follows the advice of an expert commission that had studied options for securing the country's skies after 2020. At that time, the subsonic Saab planes would reach the end of their economic lives and would be retired anyway. And because the fleet of 15 Eurofighter Typhoons are of the early Tranche-1 generation, those aircraft also are considered militarily sub par in their current configuration and economically unsustainable.

"Those who say yes to Austrian neutrality and sovereignty must also say yes to modern, high-performance supersonic aircraft capable of round-the-clock operations," Doskozil told reporters in Vienna. "At the same time, we need to get the escalating costs of the Eurofighter under control and minimize the enormous cost risks associated with it — in the interest of the taxpayer and also in relation to the other branches of the armed forces."

Continued operation of the 15 Eurofighter Typhoon jets would cost between €4.4 billion (U.S. $5 billion) and €5.1 billion (U.S. $5.8 billion) over 30 years, according to the expert commission. And that's without taking into account "the specific cost risks" associate with Tranche 1 or the costs for continued deployment of the Saab 105s, the panel said.

While there was no announcement on what other aircraft could fit Austria's needs, officials said they had spoken with Airbus — which makes the Eurofighter Typhoon — potential alternative suppliers as well as governments. Those talks led to 19 different options for monitoring Austria's airspace.

Eventually, the decision was made to go looking for a single-type fleet of supersonic planes — 15 single-seaters and three double-seaters — that would begin operations in 2020.

Austrian press reports the Swedish Gripen E/F or the American F-16 as jets that could be considered by Vienna.

There is a long-standing suspicion of the Eurofighter Typhoon in Austria, as the current government believes the country was duped into the acquisition in 2003.

 

[Maury Markowitz]

Regarding thrust, the 32,000 lbs of thrust of the two F-404-GE-400s was not that big a factor n the decision.

I apologize for replying to a very old thread, but I think it's worth pointing this out:

The twin engine layout was not for thrust or reliability reasons, but spooling times. Two smaller radius engines spooled much faster than a single larger radius one. This is a real bonus for the bug because you can come across the threshold at idle and still throttle up if you bolt.

Now for Canada, the reliability issue was one of the reasons they chose the bug. That is ironic, because in the two cases of single-engine failure, in both cases the asymmetric thrust led to hull loss (IIRC one was put back together).

However, I know the main deciding factor was the ability to fire the Sparrow, which at that time the beagle couldn't do (but did soon). Another aspect was the technology sharing arrangement, which led to some DC-9 work in Toronto and kept the old Avro plants open for another decade.

 

[BarrelNut]

Yes, an old thread but since it mentions both Tiffie and Hornet...

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eurofighter-new-aerodynamics-set-for-2014-test-flight-400762/

Eurofighter will by year-end make is final proof-of-concept test flight on an aerodynamic modification kit that promises to improve the combat aircraft’s subsonic turn rate by 15%.

Adding leading edge root extensions and extended trailing edge flaps, and reshaping the side-of-cockpit ILS antennae covers as 70° delta strakes should improve the aircraft’s agility for close-quarters combat.

Laurie Hilditch, head of future capabilities at Eurofighter, says the modification kit should give the aircraft the sort of “knife-fight in a phone box” turning capability enjoyed by rivals such as Boeing’s F/A-18E/F or the Lockheed Martin F-16, without sacrificing the transonic and supersonic high-energy agility inherent to its delta wing-canard configuration.

 

[Triton]

"Qatar Signs Letter of Intent for Eurofighters"
Sep 17, 2017 Tony Osborne | Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Source:
http://aviationweek.com/defense/qatar-signs-letter-intent-eurofighters

LONDON—Qatar has signed a long-awaited letter of intent (LOI) to purchase up 24 Eurofighter Typhoons, further bolstering the planned fighter fleet of the tiny Gulf state.

In a surprise move, British Defense Minister Michael Fallon and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah, signed the deal in Doha on Sept 17.

Qatari officials say that the agreement, which will solidify the defense cooperation and commitment between the two countries, will also lay the groundwork for “Qatar’s intentions toward procuring 24 advanced Eurofighter Typhoons and supporting capabilities.”

“After a number of years of negotiations between our two countries, I am delighted to have been able to sign today with Qatar’s defense minister this Statement of Intent on the purchase of 24 Typhoon aircraft by Qatar,” said Fallon.

He called the deal with Qatar an “important moment” in the defense relationship between the two countries.

“We also hope that this will help enhance security within the region across all Gulf allies and enhance Typhoon interoperability across the [Gulf Cooperation Council],” he added.

The LOI suggests that Qatar aims to curry favor by purchasing fighters from its three Western allies. It ordered 24 Dassault Rafales from France and made a Foreign Military Sales request from the U.S. for up to 72 Boeing F-15QA fighters, although Doha has ultimately settled on purchasing 36 of the aircraft.

Jointly, the three types will replace the 12 Mirage 2000s Qatar currently uses for air defense missions.

Several of the first batch of Qatari Rafales on order are now flying in France.

The growth of the Qatar Emiri Air Force is unprecedented, potentially boosting the air arm’s front-line fleet from the current 12 to 84 fighters of three different types. Although Qatar is not short of money, thanks to its huge deposits of natural gas, operating three different advanced fighters could create a logistics headache for such a small air arm. However, the move clearly sends a potent message, particularly given that Qatar is facing an air, land and sea blockade from its neighbors over its alleged support to terrorist groups across the Middle East.

If turned into a contract, an order for 24 Typhoons will be a significant lifeline to the Eurofighter program. Kuwait’s recent order for 28 aircraft will allow the four-nation consortium to push production out to 2023, and the Qatari order could continue production even longer, potentially allowing the aircraft to meet other future fighter requirements.

If it goes through with the Typhoon order, Qatar would become the fourth Middle East nation to order the aircraft after Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.

 

[Mike Pryce]

Typhoon, Rafale, F-15...presumably a SU-57 order will follow!

 

[Hood]

Looks like the long-rumoured job losses at Warton due to the run-down in Eurofighter production is coming.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/09/bae-systems-is-planning-1000-job-cuts

 

[Mike Pryce]

Seems like the anticipated second Saudi order is unlikely, and that the recent Qatari deal may be a mirage too:

https://www.ft.com/content/318d025a-a849-11e7-ab55-27219df83c97?mhq5j=e6

They also have a new CEO, who may see the future differently.

 

[DWG]

It's that old favourite MRCA - must re-organize company again. Though eliminating layers of management is novel for a BAE reorganization, most of these things add them.

 

[Flyaway]

RAF talks up Typhoon interoperability with F-35

As interest in fifth-generation fighters builds in the UAE, a top Royal Air Force officer explained at the show how the Eurofighter Typhoon is already demonstrating how a non-stealthy fighter can integrate with the Lockheed Martin F-35 in contested airspace.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dubai-raf-talks-up-typhoon-interoperability-with-f-443219/

 

[Deltafan]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/saudi-purge-may-lift-lid-on-43bn-bae-arms-deal-ppx7l72l7

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Yamamah_arms_deal

 

[Flyaway]

Qatar buys 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets in £6bn deal

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42302767

 

[Deltafan]

Germany favors Eurofighter as it seeks to replace Tornado

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-defence/germany-favors-eurofighter-as-it-seeks-to-replace-tornado-idUSKBN1E52EK

The last month, the chief of the German air force indicated that he preferred Lockheed Martin’s F-35

 

[mrmalaya]

Well it's what the UK have done in the first instance, but are they talking about new jets or spreading the fleet more thinly?

 

[Hood]

Of course the Government would say that; buying Eurofighters backs Airbus, keeps the German Eurofighter line open and saves money.
Though I share mrmalaya's hunch that the Defence Ministry is probably thinking about retrofitting air-ground enhancements rather than buying more airframes (or a modest buy, certainly not 85 more).

 

[mrmalaya]

Also very hard for Airbus to push Typhoon in Belgium if Germany overlooks it in favour of the F35.

It actually makes a lot of sense regardless, although as others have said - the nuclear role appears to be an unresolved problem for Typhoon.

 

[Flyaway]

Eurofighter powers up Typhoon production for Kuwait

Kuwait's future fleet of Typhoons remains on track for introduction from 2019, with the first major parts now in production by the Eurofighter partner companies.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eurofighter-powers-up-typhoon-production-for-kuwait-444148/

 

[Hood]

Airbus and Eurofighter are offering an upgraded Typhoon with increased thrust EJ200s and Euroradar Captor-E AESA radar to replace Germany's Tornados from 2025.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ila-eurofighter-to-upgrade-typhoon-engine-to-lift-s-448005/

 

[fightingirish]

For this German version, will there be sockets on the fuselage for future CFTs?
Edit:
But it might have the EuroFIRST PIRATE; it would be first for service jets of the German Air Force. ???

 

[sferrin]

Airbus and Eurofighter are offering an upgraded Typhoon with increased thrust EJ200s and Euroradar Captor-E AESA radar to replace Germany's Tornados from 2025.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ila-eurofighter-to-upgrade-typhoon-engine-to-lift-s-448005/

Is there going to be a competition? I know Airbus was threatening Germany the other day about going for the F-35 in the strike role. Shouldn't the Typhoon be able to stand on its merits sans threats?

 

[mrmalaya]

Airbus were being fairly logical for a change, although it was only the flip side of the argument that Germany is undermining NATO if it doesn't go for the F35.

If the T3 is plumbed for CFTs, I can't imagine this T4 being anything other than CFT ready. The UK has been quiet on CFTs for Typhoon, but that is probably something that will become more tangeable once they are the only Storm Shadow carrier for the RAF.

Electronic attack was something the RAF were very keen on using the AESA for, so that would support with this article too.

 

[sferrin]

Airbus were being fairly logical for a change, although it was only the flip side of the argument that Germany is undermining NATO if it doesn't go for the F35.

So, "no" to there being a competition? I wonder why.

 

[Arjen]

There are the political and economical dimensions of keeping an iron in the fire with fast jets.

 

[sferrin]

There are the political and economical dimensions of keeping an iron in the fire with fast jets.

You'd think they'd forgo this for at least, if not buying, then building their own next-gen jet.

 

[marauder2048]

Tonal change or merely headline change?

 

[sferrin]

Tonal change or merely headline change?

Germany doesn't have any nukes. Oh, they think we'll enable their Typhoon to carry them after they pass on F-35s?

 

[Arjen]

You'd think they'd forgo this for at least, if not buying, then building their own next-gen jet.

That next-gen jet is not going to be ready in 2025 - when Tornado needs replacing. Germany needs to decide, a major consideration is keeping its manufacturing abilities alive. Among others, to be able to build that next-gen jet.

 

[Hood]

So, "no" to there being a competition? I wonder why.

LM are offering the F-35 anyway, with a lead time of three years. They see the F-35 as a complimentary asset to Typhoon (not an unrealistic claim given the dual RAF fleet) and a "leg up" to European industry.
Given the German interest that has been expressed it seems likely that both types will be evaluated, assuming of course Germany does replace its Tornado fleet. Like the Franco-German FCAS, there seems to be a lot of industry noise but not much coming from the defence ministries.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ila-f-35-competes-against-eurofighter-for-german-to-448062/

Borne out by MTU urging the politicians to get busy if they are going to develop a new engine in time. I'm surprised that MTU is going it alone (someone please correct me if I'm wrong but have MTU ever developed an engine outside of an international collaboration?). I wouldn't be surprised if Safran don't get on board at some point. Also surprising is the lack of any involvement from Rolls-Royce so far, they seem keen to get onto a future fighter engine so I suppose it will only be a matter of time.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ila-mtu-urges-speedy-start-for-future-european-fig-448070/

 

[TomcatViP]

He argues that “lessons must be learned” from the Europrop International TP400 – Europe's latest military engine programme, which powers the Airbus A400M tactical transport – and that a new development effort should be planned without "too tight" a schedule, under which "milestones will be missed".

very good

also:

Central for a new engine programme will be the development of more heat-resistant materials, which will require less cooling air from the gas path and offer increased efficiency, and variable-cycle engine technology, Schreyögg says. He notes that variable geometries in the compressor and turbine will be required to provide a future aircraft with maximum thrust in combat situations, along with versatility and efficiency in less demanding conditions.

Anyone else with the word "adaptative" in mind?

 

[_Del_]

You'd think they'd forgo this for at least, if not buying, then building their own next-gen jet.

That next-gen jet is not going to be ready in 2025 - when Tornado needs replacing. Germany needs to decide, a major consideration is keeping its manufacturing abilities alive. Among others, to be able to build that next-gen jet.

It's too late to get workshare on the F-35 program... Except -- I really don't know why Germany (and/or France) doesn't get the opportunity to buy out some or all of Turkey's membership status and resulting offsets and production/maintenance portions. Make Turkey whole through structured payments and assume their workshare.

I realize it would be less than ideal both practically and politically, but it keeps/expands manufacturing in Germany, gives them hands on experience in 5th gen operations and production and resulting technology transfers, replaces the Tornado in the short-term, pushes back the timeline/urgency for their joint project with France long-term, etc

Also rids the consortium of a somewhat prickly problem re:Turkey in a way short of yanking it from them entirely. Seems like something of a kludge, but so are all the alternatives.

 

[Michel Van]

Tonal change or merely headline change?

Germany doesn't have any nukes. Oh, they think we'll enable their Typhoon to carry them after they pass on F-35s?

oh yes i had my Haddock moment reading that line

The Eurofighter is not a Bomber, that part is for Tornado fleet or what ever the Luftwaffe has in operations for moment
Official they have around 85 Tornados, but handful are in operational condition

and here lies the Problem so long German Federal Government not putting more money into Luftwaffe
it don't matter if they got Eurofighter, F-35 or new fancy-schmancy German French Bomber, they become sitting ducks do shoe string Budget on maintenance...