Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon

[Sancho]

Qatar signs USD 8-bn deal to buy 24 Typhoon fighters from UK
Dec 11, 2017

Qatar signed a multi-billion-dollar deal today to buy 24 Typhoon fighters from Britain, its second major defence agreement this week, which comes during the worst political crisis in the region for years.

The USD 8-billion deal was signed in Doha by Qatar's Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah and his British counterpart, Gavin Williamson.

Williamson said it was the biggest order for Typhoons in a decade, and it follows a billion-dollar deal signed by Qatar on December 7 to buy 12 French Dassault Aviation warplanes.

"These formidable jets will boost the Qatari military's mission to tackle the challenges we both share in the Middle East, supporting stability in the region and delivering security at home," said the British minister.

The deal also includes an intention for Qatar to buy further military equipment from Britain, namely the purchase of Hawk aircraft.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by the two countries for this Typhoon contract in September.

Qatar is the ninth country to sign a deal for Typhoon jets, said London...

http://wap.business-standard.com/ar...-typhoon-fighters-from-uk-117121100033_1.html

 

[Sancho]

Eurofighter Typhoon upgrade standards:

 

[Sancho]

EF sensor fusion example:

 

[Sancho]

EF P3E CAS config, with 2 x Paveway 4 LGBs and 6 x Brimstone missiles.

 

[Sancho]

Qatar inks deal with UK for 24 Typhoon jets, training package

Britain has signed a deal with Qatar to supply 24 Typhoon fighters as well as a weapons and training package — the biggest export sale of the jet by the U.K. in more than a decade.

Recently appointed U.K. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was in Qatar‘s capital Doha on Dec. 10, along with his Qatari counterpart, Khalid Bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, for the signing of a deal expected to be worth an amount approaching £6 billion (U.S. $8 billion)....

...Aside from the Eurofighter Typhoon jets, the Qatar deal includes the supply of a weapons package covering MBDA-built Brimstone 2 ground-to-air and Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles as well as Raytheon’s Paveway IV precision-guided bombs.

The British Ministry of Defence said in a statement that during his visit, Williamson also agreed to a package of training and cooperation between the two countries’ air forces, which includes training for Qatari pilots and ground crew in the U.K.

Subject to financing conditions being met and receipt by BAE of the first payment, the first of the 24 aircraft are expected to be delivered to Qatar in late 2022.

https://www.defensenews.com/trainin...with-uk-for-24-typhoon-jets-training-package/

 

[Sancho]

Leonardo readies Captor-E next phase, Kuwaiti Eurofighter assembly
11th December 2017

Leonardo is preparing to begin the next testing phase for its next-generation Captor-E active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which will eventually equip the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft destined for Kuwait.

The first phase of test flights for the Leonardo AESA radar, which included unpowered and powered flights in the UK, wrapped up earlier this year with ‘excellent results’, according Alastair Morrison, SVP radar & advanced targeting at Leonardo Airborne and Space Systems.

‘There have been some really good long-range tracking results and we have been able to test the radar’s Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode as well,’ he explained.

The next stage will see a second Captor-E flight test asset – also known as an instrumented production aircraft (IPA) – begin flights in Germany ‘very shortly’. According to Eurofighter, this will utilise IPA 8, a German-built test aircraft.

‘Currently we’ve been working with the first asset in the UK, having the second asset will allow us to run multiple programmes in parallel,’ said Morrison.

The next 12 months will see Leonardo perform a series of ‘high intensity’ flight trials with incremental software updates to enable the required capability – known as the Phase 3 Enhancement (P3E) standard - to be available for the first deliveries to the Kuwait Air Force.

The hardware has ‘an enormous amount of potential’ for future enhancements, said Morrison, owing to the amount of power it can generate because of its large antenna. Extra capabilities such as communications, passive use, electronic attack and advanced surface tracking techniques could also be on the cards in the future.

The Kuwaiti Eurofighters – 28 in total comprising 22 single seat and six twin-seat – will undergo final assembly by Leonardo Aircraft in Turin, Italy.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/...17-leonardo-readies-captor-e-next-phase-kuwa/

 

[Sancho]

Germany favours Eurofighter as it seeks to replace Tornado

The German Defence Ministry said on Monday that the European fighter jet was in poll position to replace its Tornado jets, which it wants to phase out starting in 2025.
It added in a statement that Boeing's F-15 and F-18 fighters, as well as Lockheed Martin's F-35 aircraft, were secondary options. No final decision has been made...

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSB4N1LS028?__twitter_impression=true


The defence ministry replied to an official inquiry, about the statements of the Air Force Chief favouring F35s as the Tornado replacement.

 

[Sancho]

EF with Marte-ER anti ship missile, on offer for Kuwait.
Another config to look forward to, is the "common launcher", that might be a coming upgrade, to be used as triple launcher for Brimstone/Spear, or twin launcher for Paveway 4 LGBs:

 

[Sancho]

Eurofighter powers up Typhoon production for Kuwait
13 DECEMBER, 2017

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.

"Production activities have begun, in order to comply with the contract and customer expectations," the Eurofighter consortium says. Kuwait signed for 28 of the multirole type – including six two-seat trainers – in 2016 and Italy's Leonardo is lead partner for the sale.

Detailing the programme's status ahead of the 12-14 December Gulf Defence & Aerospace exhibition in Kuwait, Leonardo said production activities are on track, "and, in some cases, ahead of schedule". This includes current work on wing skins, while "the first rear section fuselage is going to start the 'Stage 2' assembly phase in early 2018", it add

Infrastructure work in Kuwait ahead of the new type's arrival is also under way, says Eurofighter, with construction work having commenced in August 2017.

Once operational, the Typhoon will provide a significant increase in capability for the Kuwait air force, which Flight Fleets Analyzer records as currently operating 34 Boeing F/A-18C/Ds, aged between 24 and 26 years.

The service's new type will be fitted with the Euroradar consortium's Captor-E active electronically scanned array radar, Lockheed Martin Sniper targeting pod, plus precision-guided weapons including MBDA's Brimstone air-to-surface missile and Storm Shadow cruise missile.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...wers-up-typhoon-production-for-kuwait-444148/

 

[asianobserve]

Luftwaffe: F-35 is best replacement for Tornado; MOD: Get Typhoon!

Germany’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contradicted the country’s air force chief in declaring that the Panavia Tornado should be replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon rather than the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The declaration, which was reportedly made in a letter to a German lawmaker, is in direct contradiction to views expressed by the chief of the Luftwaffe, Lieutenant General Karl Muellner, who in early November said it is his preference that the F-35 be the replacement platform.

“The indicated view of the [chief] of the air force that the F-35 Lightning II is an especially suitable successor to the Tornado system is not the position of the federal government,” Deputy Defence Minister Ralf Brauksiepe was quoted by Reuters as saying in the letter.

The general noted that the Tornado’s successor must have the full spectrum of offensive counter air and air interdiction; suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD); close air support (CAS); tactical reconnaissance; electronic warfare (EW); and the nuclear deterrent mission. It must also meet future threats and be survivable in a contested environment through the employment of low observability (stealth) technologies, as well as standoff sensors and weapons. “The Luftwaffe considers the F-35’s capability as the benchmark for the selection process for the Tornado replacement, and I think I have expressed myself clearly enough as to what the favourite of the air force is,” he said.

http://www.janes.com/article/76326/german-mod-says-luftwaffe-should-get-more-eurofighters-not-f-35s

Much like the pickle that Canadian politicians have put themselves into, against the advice of its own Air Force.... Now Canadian politicians have seen the light and are more open already to F-35 in their new tender.

 

[Sancho]

Luftwaffe: F-35 is best replacement for Tornado; MOD: Get Typhoon!

http://www.janes.com/article/76326/german-mod-says-luftwaffe-should-get-more-eurofighters-not-f-35s

Much like the pickle that Canadian politicians have put themselves into, against the advice of its own Air Force.... Now Canadian politicians have seen the light and are more open already to F-35 in their new tender.

It's not quite like that, since Canada wants to replace the older fighters with a single type. Germany on the other hand will operate EF's anyway, now the question is, do they need a 2nd platform, or can the EF simply take over the roles of the Tornados. The answer is, except for the nuclear delivery role, it can do it all with the necessary upgrades. Apart of that, German government is already committing themselves into the future European fighter development, which makes a 2nd fighter type now, questionable too, especially if it's a stealth fighter as well.

 

[Sancho]

German EF

British EF

Italian EF

Spanish EF

Austrian EF

Saudi EF

Omani EF

 

[Kay]

If you plan to sell a fighter outside Europe..it's best not to name it Eurofighter..
On a serious note, the Future European fighter program with France and Germany seems like a re-run of the original one. France will definitely decide to go alone mid--way. At least, UK has wisened up and is hedging it's bets with Turkey.

 

[Sancho]

On a serious note, the Future European fighter program with France and Germany seems like a re-run of the original one. France will definitely decide to go alone mid--way. At least, UK has wisened up and is hedging it's bets with Turkey.

The situation actually couldn't be more different. The EF were mainly developed by the former Tornado partners, UK, Italy and Germany, with Spain later joining. So France had to deal with already existing partnerships, besides different requirements (+ with their and the British ego).
The new fighter programme is pushed by Airbus Germany and Airbus Spain, which already are partners of France and with president Macron's commitment to the project, at least Airbus France will take part for sure. These 3 nations and Airbus as the prime company are also leading the way for the EU military and aviation industry, with joint tactical transport and joint tanker fleets already getting organised and ordered. They also teamed up for the EU MALE drone project and now are planing the future fighter too. The only question is, which countries and industrial partners will join? Dassault is likely, but not important for the EU. Sweden and Saab would have far more impact, just as Italy with Leonardo. BAE is already begging to be a part of it, because they know what potential a EU fighter has, compared to 3 Eurocanards that are competing each other.

But the biggest problem remains to be operational requirements. The EF was aimed on high performance, Rafale on an omni role design with a naval version, while Gripen was meant on cost-effective multi role capability. Combining those in a single fighter, that also has stealth as a priority, will be tricky, although Airbus and Saab show similar aims.

 

[Sancho]

Available air to ground capability

(GBU16 - 1000lb LGB)

(Paveway 4 - 500lb LGB)

(GBU10 - 2000lb LGB)


Added air to ground capability with P3E upgrade 2018/19 onwards

(Brimstone - 110lb ATGM)

(Storm Shadow - 2866lb cruise missile)

(GBU48 - 1000lb LGB)

Planned additions:
- Spear 3 (220lb missile)
- GBU 54 (500lb LJDAM)

 

[Armand2REP]

The situation actually couldn't be more different. The EF were mainly developed by the former Tornado partners, UK, Italy and Germany, with Spain later joining. So France had to deal with already existing partnerships, besides different requirements (+ with their and the British ego).
The new fighter programme is pushed by Airbus Germany and Airbus Spain, which already are partners of France and with president Macron's commitment to the project, at least Airbus France will take part for sure. These 3 nations and Airbus as the prime company are also leading the way for the EU military and aviation industry, with joint tactical transport and joint tanker fleets already getting organised and ordered. They also teamed up for the EU MALE drone project and now are planing the future fighter too. The only question is, which countries and industrial partners will join? Dassault is likely, but not important for the EU. Sweden and Saab would have far more impact, just as Italy with Leonardo. BAE is already begging to be a part of it, because they know what potential a EU fighter has, compared to 3 Eurocanards that are competing each other..

Actually the two entities that push it are BAE (UK) and Leonardo (Italy). France was the only nation that had designed a modern fighter and the Euro-canard came from the M4000 design/testing conducted by Dassault. They felt they should be lead on the project since most of the work had already been conducted by France. When the others didn't agree we said au revoir. Dassault is the largest and most experienced designer in Europe backed by world leading testing facilities possessed nowhere else on the continent.

 

[Sancho]

Actually the two entities that push it are BAE (UK) and Leonardo (Italy). France was the only nation that had designed a modern fighter and the Euro-canard came from the M4000 design/testing conducted by Dassault. They felt they should be lead on the project since most of the work had already been conducted by France. When the others didn't agree we said au revoir. Dassault is the largest and most experienced designer in Europe backed by world leading testing facilities possessed nowhere else on the continent.

And that's the ego problem we see and which kept hurting the Rafale as well. One can only hope that they learned their lessons, although I put more hope on president Macron and the French part of Airbus. Dassault is meaningless for the EU, next to Airbus and Saab. They neither are selling their fighters in that market, nor have many interesting defence products either. If they are smart, they join the project with less ego and more teamplay, otherwise they should focus on business jets, which is not working that well either as the latest news suggests.

 

[Tactical Frog]

And that's the ego problem we see and which kept hurting the Rafale as well. One can only hope that they learned their lessons, although I put more hope on president Macron and the French part of Airbus. Dassault is meaningless for the EU, next to Airbus and Saab. They neither are selling their fighters in that market, nor have many interesting defence products either. If they are smart, they join the project with less ego and more teamplay, otherwise they should focus on business jets, which is not working that well either as the latest news suggests.

Airbus is meaningless in terms of fighter jet designs. The Brits were the leading force behind Eurofighter, now they are out. If Airbus leadership was smart ( which I doubt after the near disaster, epic financial odyssey that was A400M) , they would let Dassault assume leadership of this new german french fighter project and focus on their civilian business for once.

 

[Bornubus]

If you plan to sell a fighter outside Europe..it's best not to name it Eurofighter..

What should be the name if say Nigeria is planing to buy ?

 

[Sancho]

Airbus is meaningless in terms of fighter jet designs. The Brits were the leading force behind Eurofighter, now they are out.

MBB (now part of Airbus Germany) design concept TKF90

BAE fighter design back then

Now guess which one is the base for the EF?


MBB (Airbus Germany) / Rockwell X31 tech demonstrator

(Tailless delta canard design, based on the TKF 90)

(Without vertical tail)

(With 3D TVC)