Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon

[Sancho]

It is hilarious that Belgium values jobs? It is hilarious that Belgium values cost savings by sharing infrastructure and training? It is hilarious that Belgium would choose the lowest bidder? It is hilarious that they would partner with the military that speaks the same language? It is hilarious to think since they are integrating their Army with French so they wouldn't do the Air Force?

It's hilarious because you think a fighter that officially is not in the tender anymore would be a favourite. :biggrin2:

There was no appropriate reply by Dassault to the RFP, that's why the MoD of Belgium is considering only the replies of LM and BAE/Airbus for the tender at the moment. And the favourite is the F35, because Belgium has close relations to the Netherlands, which already has selected the F35 and that's why a focus on joint operability is considered as the prefered choice, with the EF currently being the only alternative.
The latest news and responses from officials in Belgium even shows clearly, that they consider the few papers that were provided by French government as desperate lobbying, with the funny part being, that industrial participation of Belgium on the future "Airbus" stealth fighter is part of the proposal. That makes it evident, that French government should accept defeat of Rafale and join Germany and the UK to put political pressure behind the EF now, because it would be bad symbolism if the capital of the EU is protected by F35s, rather than a European fighter.

 

[Sancho]

Some news from earlier this year:

Typhoon proves itself in fight against DAESH
Aug 11, 2017

An RAF Spokesman says Typhoon has proved itself at the heart of the international coalition fighting against DAESH.

An RAF Spokesman says Typhoon has proved itself at the heart of the international coalition fighting against DAESH.

The aircraft has now flown in excess of 900 missions over Iraq and Syria since December 2015, providing daily support to international coalition forces in the fight against DAESH on Operation SHADER.

Each mission consists of a pair of Typhoons and all told the operational activity equates to over 10,000 flying hours, during which the aircraft has delivered more than 850 Paveway IV weapons...

...He said that the flexibility of Typhoon with Paveway IV, when combined with the weapon effects, has led to an increased demand from across the Operation SHADER Area of Operations with Coalition Joint Terminal Attack Controllers specifically asking for Typhoon support.

As a multi-role aircraft, Typhoon offers Air to Air operations with precision strike Air to Surface operations using Paveway IV laser-guided weapon and 27mm cannon. The Litening III Advanced Targeting Pod generates a fidelity of coordinates that permits immediate self-strike capability, significantly reducing the time to prosecute time-sensitive targets...

https://www.eurofighter.com/news-and-events/2017/08/typhoon-proves-itself-in-fight-against-daesh

UK looks to Typhoon upgrade package
26 October 2017

...Jane’s has learned that the Royal Air Force (RAF) has set up Project Janus to oversee the integration of new capabilities onto the service’s fleet of Typhoon aircraft. Project Janus is being run from the Typhoon Air Capability Programme Management Office at RAF Air Command, RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, according to a staff recruitment advertisement seen by Jane’s .

“The Typhoon programme will transition [Panavia] Tornado GR4 capability onto Typhoon under Project Centurion and subsequently integrate a number of enhancements onto the platform under Project Janus to deliver the aircraft’s future operating state for 2025,” said the advertisement for specialist personnel to help run the project.

http://www.janes.com/article/75221/uk-looks-to-typhoon-upgrade-package

Some of the upgrades that might come under project Janus...

BAE Systems touts large area display for Typhoon
14 September 2017

BAE Systems and Airbus are developing a large area display (LAD) system as part of plans for future upgrades to the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, it was revealed at the DSEI exhibition in London.

Speaking to Jane’s on 13 September, Eurofighter capabilities manager at BAE Systems and former UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon pilot, Paul Smith, said that two separate but linked efforts are currently underway to develop the LAD as part of a potential future capability upgrade for the fighter.

“[BAE Systems] is putting together a cockpit demonstration rig for the LAD on the Typhoon. Airbus is developing a similar concept also. We have the same ideas and are sharing information,” Smith said, adding that any final solution will likely bring together the work of both teams.

As Smith noted, the LAD being developed would replace the Typhoon’s current three-multifunction display (MFD) cockpit configuration with a single unit that would massively aid with the sensor fusion required for the new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar being integrated onto the aircraft. “The AESA is driving a lot of this [LAD concept work], due to the extra data [that will be available to the pilot],” he explained. In the new cockpit configuration being developed by BAE Systems, the LAD would likely be augmented by company’s HUDLite and Striker II helmet-mounted display (HMD) system.

Currently, the development work is being driven by industry, although Smith said that some of the Typhoon’s newer customers and those being courted for future sales are interested in the concept. Reaction from the partner nations has been more mixed, he said, with some questioning the need for such a major hardware retrofit when HMDs such as the Striker II will provide much of the same capabilities in a plug-and-play solution.

http://www.janes.com/article/73995/dsei-2017-bae-systems-touts-large-area-display-for-typhoon

Also under considerations are CFTs, that finally will solve the problem for deep strike and heavy attack missions, with provisions for the CFTs, already being part of the T3A fighters and currently undergoing test flights:

 

[asianobserve]

xxx because it would be bad symbolism if the capital of the EU is protected by F35s, rather than a European fighter.

But right now the political capital of the EU is protected by F-16s...

 

[Sancho]

But right now the political capital of the EU is protected by F-16s...

Procured in a time when the EU itself had less meaning, but now with joint military and joint defence industry things are getting different and it would be sad to see Belgium making that mistake politically and defence wise. The funny part is, that it's the UK that is offering the EF with the argument, that it would be the best for Belgium, to have a fighter that complements Dutch F35s, similar to the EF/F35 combo in the RAF. So the hope for a European fighter for the capital of the EU lies heavily on a country that just went out of the EU. :biggrin2:

 

[Sancho]

Ask the insider: Eurofighter Typhoon

Jim Smith had significant technical roles in the development of the UK’s leading military aviation programmes. From ASRAAM and Nimrod, to the JSF and Eurofighter Typhoon. We asked him about the concept behind the Eurofighter Typhoon.

What was your role on this project?

“I worked on Typhoon advising the Project Office on Mass and Performance. This involved understanding and validating data from the project, and advising both the UK and NETMA (NATO Eurofighter/Tornado Management Agency) on compliance with requirements for mass and point and mission performance. As part of this role, I was delegated UK airworthiness sign off for the Performance System for first flight of the aircraft. This was not as grand as it sounds, as for first flight the concerns are take off and lading distances, brakes and brake parachute. Moving into the Chief Scientists area, I also wrote the Mass and Performance chapters of the Chief Scientist’s review of the programme”

Was Typhoon the right concept, what is the airframe optimised for?

“The aircraft, or more properly, the system, was designed to meet a variety of requirements from the partner nations. These are classified and I will not detail them. The mission performance requirements from most partners emphasised air superiority, but there were also some air to surface missions. Point performance requirements were owned by specific Nations and included requirements on climb performance, acceleration, instantaneous and sustained turn rates and specific points required by the Nations.

I would summarise the intent as providing the best possible air superiority aircraft within weight and affordability constraints, and against the need to replace then in-service systems like Tornado F3. Acceleration in the transonic and supersonic regime was a high point, as was supersonic manoeuvrability. The aircraft is required to be able to pull significant g at a Mach number a clean F-35 cannot achieve in level flight.

From a UK perspective the aircraft was seen as primarily an air defence and air superiority fighter, but with a strong capability to transition to swing roles, where both air-to-air and air-to-surface capability can be delivered if required. The UK considered the Typhoon and F-35 to be complementary, with F-35 delivering primarily a strike role.

I think Typhoon has proven itself to be an excellent choice for the RAF, given that it is in service with proven capability, has replaced the Tornado F3, and has increasing capability in all roles as radar and weapons development and integration continue.”...

...With an unlimited budget, how would you upgrade Typhoon?

For the Air Defence role, integrate the active e-scan radar, Meteor and conformal fuel tanks. All planned, but sooner rather than later would be good.

For the swing role/strike role, continue integrating stand-off weapons. Conformal tanks as above. Look hard at maximising interoperability with JSF.”

https://hushkit.net/2017/12/29/ask-the-insider-eurofighter-typhoon/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Armand2REP]

It's hilarious because you think a fighter that officially is not in the tender anymore would be a favourite. :biggrin2:

There was no appropriate reply by Dassault to the RFP, that's why the MoD of Belgium is considering only the replies of LM and BAE/Airbus for the tender at the moment. And the favourite is the F35, because Belgium has close relations to the Netherlands, which already has selected the F35 and that's why a focus on joint operability is considered as the prefered choice, with the EF currently being the only alternative.
The latest news and responses from officials in Belgium even shows clearly, that they consider the few papers that were provided by French government as desperate lobbying, with the funny part being, that industrial participation of Belgium on the future "Airbus" stealth fighter is part of the proposal. That makes it evident, that French government should accept defeat of Rafale and join Germany and the UK to put political pressure behind the EF now, because it would be bad symbolism if the capital of the EU is protected by F35s, rather than a European fighter.

You are aware of what a G2G deal is correct? That does not fit into an RFP. France is offering a strategic defence and industrial partnership the US will not offer and one the others are incapable of offering.

Let me take five minutes to draw up a concept stealth fighter, that is the level of development by Airbus. The F-35 would be preferred but there is no industrial work left to hand over. The others cannot offer the industrial or strategic advantage. If the MoD pushes forward with any offer other than the French they will cause a political crisis and lose the support of the coalition and it turns into Switzerland. Belgium can't afford to pass up the offer of having 5k high-paying aerospace jobs guaranteed for 20 years.

 

[Sancho]

You are aware of what a G2G deal is correct? That does not fit into an RFP.

Right, but on 3 DIN A4 papers that were provided by the French DM? More importantly, in the tender in Belgium it's called RFGP request for government proposal, so if the US, UK and Germany was able to do it the proper way, why wasn't it possible for France / Dassault?

the US will not offer and one the others are incapable of offering.

Which is why BAE / Airbus are pointing to their industrial advantages:

So the fact remains, until Belgium reconsiders and finds the French outside proposal to be legal, only F35 and the EF are left in the tender, with F35 being the favourite for the mentioned reasons, while the EF being the European / industrial solution, that complements Dutch F35s.

 

[Armand2REP]

Right, but on 3 DIN A4 papers that were provided by the French DM? More importantly, in the tender in Belgium it's called RFGP request for government proposal, so if the US, UK and Germany was able to do it the proper way, why wasn't it possible for France / Dassault?

So the fact remains, until Belgium reconsiders and finds the French outside proposal to be legal, only F35 and the EF are left in the tender, with F35 being the favourite for the mentioned reasons, while the EF being the European / industrial solution, that complements Dutch F35s.

There is no section in the RFP for the strategic cooperation that is being offered. They are being offered access to the infrastructure and training facilities of the Armee de l'Air for free as well as industrial integration into the largest aerospace industry in the world outside of the US. When Airbus dangles jobs out for its Eurofighter they forget that the French have to sign off on it or we will use our Golden Share Veto. There is no such veto over the Rafale.

Did you forget why Saab withdrew from the tender? They knew it was rigged for the F-35. It is still rigged for the F-35 so you can forget any Eurofighter. It is either a G2G deal for Rafale or following the tender to its final F-35 conclusion.

 

[Sancho]

Sieh dir den Tweet von @abdulmoiz1990 an:

 

[Immanuel]

Belgium will buy the F-35, they have the same nuke delivery requirement as US/NATO nukes are based at Kliene Brogel Airbase in the North and the F-35 is the only option. Currently BAF 31 Tigers take up this role with the F-16. Rafale and EF can't deploy the B-61 weapon without upgrades and the US insisting on serious insights into both aircraft. Eitherway, won't happen.

Same reason why the F-35 was bought by the Dutch as they too have a Nato Nuke delivery role out of the Volkel Air base. Moreso, with LM having decades of experience working with local partners in Belgium, NL and other with assembly, maintenance and what not, it is a easy win for the F-35.

Besides they only need 34 fighters to replace around 54 F-16s and it's clear the successor needs to be NATO nuke capable either from the start or eventually.

Moreso the timeline suits the F-35 purchase better, they need deliveries to begin 2023 and continue till 2030 and in that timeline the F-35 is a block 4 variant and is FOCed in the US.

 

[Sancho]

Belgium will buy the F-35, they have the same nuke delivery requirement as US/NATO

Probably, nuclear requirement on the one side, industrial and political on the other. But since they are linked with the Dutch air Force, they could go for interoperability as well, since they are mainly tasked with QRA and air defence, while the Dutch coils take over the nuclear role.
With the EU defence changing right now, a lot of things are uncertain. We already see joint transport and tanker procurements of several nations. Joint AWACS based on Airbus A330 is a given, the joint MALE programme as well. So does the EU defence force required several nations to take over the nuclear role, or will they focus it at 1 place instead?

 

[Sancho]

Sieh dir den Tweet von @BAES_Belgium an:

 

[Sancho]

Sieh dir den Tweet von @BAES_Belgium an:
Sadly no high resolution pic, but if you zoom in on the advanced weapons that are in development / under consideration, for the first time (afaik), Al Tariq is mentioned on an official info graphic!
That's significant, because it's UAEs prime PGM now, which they also integrated on Mirage 2000-9s.

 

[Sancho]

http://defense-update.com/20171219_gbu-48.html

Luftwaffe EFs in Sweden for further tests to integrate GBU 48:

 

[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)

Weapon capability examples

 

[Armand2REP]

I don't understand the use of Brimestone when it costs $250,000 a shot. It is not a feasible weapon for any system at that price. A Paveway II costs $21,000.

 

[Sancho]

I don't understand the use of Brimestone when it costs $250,000 a shot. It is not a feasible weapon for any system at that price. A Paveway II costs $21,000.

- lower collateral damage
- higher precision
- extended range
- higher load configs
- all weather capability

=>

For the French air force, the principal lesson learned from operations in Libya is that it needs smaller and more precise air-to-ground missiles. The Sagem AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire), in the 250-kg (550-lb.) version in service, is too big. It's like using a brick instead of a fly swatter to kill that pesky fly on the window...

...In the absence of the Brimstone missile used by the RAF, which is smaller and more accurate than the AASM and can take out targets embedded in towns, the French air force decided to use inert AASMs in some situations. These weigh the same as live AASMs, but rubber or concrete replace the explosive. RAF Tornados destroyed Iraqi tanks with similar concrete bombs in 2003.

The inert bombs are equipped with the same GPS navigation systems as the real ones and are also accurate to within 1 meter (3.3 ft.). Dropped from a Rafale, they hit their target at a speed of 300 meters/sec. and do a good job of destroying a tank without causing collateral damage in a 200-meter-dia. circle around the point of impact...

http://m.aviationweek.com/awin/uk-france-fine-tune-libyan-air-ops

For basic CAS targets, that are stationary or without low collateral damage requirements, the EF already uses Paveway IV.

 

[Sancho]

Interview with Distinguished Flying Cross winning Typhoon fighter pilot

Despite being low on fuel and facing anti-aircraft fire, Squadron Leader Roger Cruickshank led an attack to protect Iraqi soldiers pinned down by Daesh. In 2017 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this perilous mission. We spoke to Roger about this mission, and what the Typhoon is like to fly and fight in.

Which aircraft do you fly and with which unit, how many do you hours do you have on type?
I fly the Eurofighter Typhoon as the Executive Officer on II(AC) Sqn and have 860 hours on type.

What were you first impressions of flying the Typhoon?
The thrust that the Typhoon has is ferocious, something that I don’t personally think you ever get used to though the G Force is brutal. The fact that you can ‘back stick’ the controls and know that the aircraft will limit the G means that you can pull straight to 9 G and trust me – that hurts every single time!

Which three words best describe the Typhoon?
Agile, Powerful, Lethal.

Do the canards obscure the view down?
They do though if you need to see beneath them then you just roll upside down!

How useful is the helmet and how often is it used? What is it used for?
The Helmet Mounted Symbology System (HMSS) is exceptional and very useful for all sorts of warfighting. It can be used to see any target or friendly aircraft by using the same symbology that is in the HUD. It is effectively an extension of the HUD which means that you have all the information required wherever you are looking. For Air to Ground missions you have the ability to simply look at where a target is then cue all of the weapons systems to look there, including the Lightening Designator Pod. Due to this capability it means that after identifying a target, you can drop a Paveway IV, 500-lb precision weapon on it in seconds.

What was your most notable mission and why?
I was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission I flew over Iraq in May 2016 as part of Op SHADER. Allied troops (Iraqi Defence Forces) were pinned down by Daesh fighters and we were called straight onto the tasking by the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). My wingman and I quickly got our sensors into the area, setting up for the attack as quickly as we possibly could. As I went to release my weapon on the enemies’ location I had a hangup which meant that the aircraft was not allowing me to release the weapon. Fortunately I remembered a brief where I had been taught the procedure if this was to happen though had around 2 seconds to decide based on my location running into the target. I tried the switch selections and the next weapon came off and destroyed the target, saving the lives of many allied troops that day. We then got called into a very similar situation around 60 miles away where we then had the same pressure of trying to save allied troops who were pinned down. However, we were now tight on fuel but, after checking the status of our air to air refuelling aircraft, which was a UK Voyager, we decided it was possible to stay for long enough. However, it was my wingman who was releasing the weapon on this occasion and his weapon was a ‘dud’. It hit the target and there was only a puff of smoke seen. This does happen a small percentage of the time to all weapons though I had a very difficult decision to make as the formation leader and chose to use a different diversion which was a hostile area closer by, which meant we didn’t have to use so much diversion fuel to get to the Voyager. My wingman carried out the attack and this time it successfully destroyed the target and we flew a direct line to the Voyager while asking them to come to us otherwise we were going to have to divert straight away because of our lack of fuel. The JTAC was extremely thankful and I remember him saying, “You guys better go get some fuel before you fall out of the sky…!” It was a very successful mission and was very humbling to find out that due to our teamwork, with the JTAC, my wingman and the UK Voyager, we saved a lot of lives that day.

Which new piece of equipment would you most like to see integrated on Typhoon?
Soon we will have the Brimstone missile integrated onto the Typhoon which will be an excellent capability improvement as well as Stormshadow.

What are the best and worst things about the Typhoon?
The best thing about the Typhoon is it’s Specific Excess Power (SEP) and the worst would be how quickly you burn fuel when you are in reheat!...

More here:
https://hushkit.net/2018/01/16/inte...d-flying-cross-winning-typhoon-fighter-pilot/

 

[Sancho]

BAE Systems’ Anthony Gregory explains @Eurofighter_1 industrial offer to #Belgium. Our Industrial Day in #Brussels discussed collaboration:


Yesterday we told industry and academia at why @Eurofighter_1 is the best solution for Belgium. BAE Systems’ Anthony Gregory explains more:
Sieh dir den Tweet von @BAES_Belgium an:

 

[Sancho]

BAE Systems’ Anthony Gregory explains @Eurofighter_1 industrial offer to #Belgium. Our Industrial Day in #Brussels discussed collaboration:


Yesterday we told industry and academia at why @Eurofighter_1 is the best solution for Belgium. BAE Systems’ Anthony Gregory explains more:
Sieh dir den Tweet von @BAES_Belgium an:

More details on the industrial offer:

ACCaP Program: BAE Systems offers Belgium to enter Eurofighter future developments

Industrial proposals as part of the Eurofighter offer to Belgium would create opportunities to participate in the future development of the aircraft, leading industry representatives and academics have been told, BAE Systems said on January 23, 2018.

Further details about the Eurofighter consortium’s long-term industrial proposal to Belgium were revealed last week at a Eurofighter Typhoon Belgian Aerospace Industry Day, held in Brussels.

More than 50 representatives from industry and academia were at the event, which focussed on how the Eurofighter programme would seek to collaborate with Belgian industry, should Belgium choose Eurofighter Typhoon. Proposals included:

-- The creation of opportunities for Belgian industry to have a voice in the future development of Typhoon

-- The provision for Belgium to access valuable Mission Data and Electronic Warfare data, working with the UK

-- The opportunity for Belgium to participate in the support structure for the aircraft

-- The opportunity to ensure Belgium is "well positioned" for future European aircraft programmes

Anthony Gregory, Campaign Director for Belgium at BAE Systems, said: “One of the major strengths of our true European offer is that the IPR on Eurofighter is entirely owned by the companies within the programme itself. That means we can share that IPR and invite Belgium into the future development of the aircraft. Our proposals around access to Mission Data and Electronic Warfare data would mean Belgium would not simply be provided with a data pack, but would have its own representatives within the system.

“Belgium would be given access to the systems to allow it to programme the aircraft to its requirements, as well as having a seat alongside the UK. We have provided some of that UK infrastructure and plan to invite Belgian industry to become a part of it.”

The UK-led European offer to Belgium offers a Government to Government Memorandum of Understanding underpinning a deep strategic partnership and including a comprehensive relationship between the Royal Air Force and the Belgian Air Component.

Part of that relationship would bring the Belgian Air Component’s Eurofighter aircraft into a support structure based on the UK’s support model, known as the Typhoon Total Availability Enterprise, or TyTAN. The TyTAN agreement, signed between BAE Systems and the UK Ministry of Defence in 2016, is an innovative 10-year agreement to reduce the support costs of the Eurofighter UK fleet by more than a third, with savings reinvested into the programme.

Mr Gregory added: “We are examining how Belgian industry could participate in that structure. All of our proposals further ensure that Belgian industry is well positioned to take advantage of next generation capability. That is embodied in the Eurofighter aircraft, which benefits from a long-term future development path, but it also positions industry well for the next European combat aircraft development.

“The various elements of our offer are designed to ensure that Belgian industry can realise the full extent of opportunities that this procurement could represent.”

The European Eurofighter offer, led by the UK Government, is offering Eurofighter Typhoon as an advanced multi-role combat aircraft solution to Belgium. Other elements of the industrial proposals include the establishment of two National Innovation Centres for Belgium.

https://www.airrecognition.com/inde...to-enter-eurofighter-future-developments.html