Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

[LordJim]

Well they were called the Tornado Mafia at DLO

[Defiance]

Well they were called the Tornado Mafia at DLO

The UK is binning its Tornados earlier than everyone else who's operating them by something like a decade (Germany is looking at trying to make it 2040!), seems like a pretty ineffective mafia these days.

[bobp]

The UK is binning its Tornados earlier than everyone else

Ask yourself why, the UK Tornados have flown a lot of hours and combat missions since they came into service.

[downsizer]

The UK is binning its Tornados earlier than everyone else

Ask yourself why, the UK Tornados have flown a lot of hours and combat missions since they came into service.

They've flown largely benign sortie profiles. We're binning then because of lack of money, no other reason.

[Defiance]

^ this.

They're not shagged out, at least, not entirely.

[SKB]

RAF Typhoons and Tornados aren't just used for exercises and airshows, unlike other Typhoon and Tornado users.

[dmereifield]

^ this.

They're not shagged out, at least, not entirely.

In that case, when we do retire them, are we likely to be able to find a new home for them? Even if its just to be cannibalised for another users fleet...at least we might get a few quid back?

[LordJim]

I left the MoD before the Typhoon really entered service so the Tornado was the shiny new toy, especially in tis GR4 form then entering service. We have used out Tornadoes more than anyone else that is fir sure but we have had a large pool of airframes to spread the load around especially since we drastically shrank the squadron numbers.

Tornado will leave as soon as we have two F-35 squadrons up and running. Those plus the seen Typhoon squadrons are going to be the RAFs future with the Tranche 1 Typhoons being replace by the next two F-35 squadrons though given our slow delivery programme they will probably go after the first is operational. By then the remaining Typhoon squadrons should all be operating Tranche3 equivalents. At least this is better then the seven squadrons we were going to have before the 2015 SDSR.

[Defiance]

^ this.

They're not shagged out, at least, not entirely.

In that case, when we do retire them, are we likely to be able to find a new home for them? Even if its just to be cannibalised for another users fleet...at least we might get a few quid back?

Mix of factors but i'd likely say not. If the supply chain is in a poor state no new customer will want them and you could only hope to chop up for bits, in that case it's a question of current operator's supply/fleet management structure and how that ties up with airframe use as to if they see any use in them.

It seems like the ideal customer would be a Tornado operator currently burning through their hours faster than they would have anticipated which throws their sustainment plans all out of whack. Budgets permitting etc.

[dmereifield]

Thanks for info. Do you know of any operators in that fits he bill:
" a Tornado operator currently burning through their hours faster than they would have anticipated which throws their sustainment plans all out of whack. Budgets permitting etc"

[Defiance]

All up in the air, anything could happen theorietically, but practically?

Personal expectation is they'll be quietly disposed of and that's it - anything else is just gravy.

[Timmymagic]

Thanks for info. Do you know of any operators in that fits he bill:
" a Tornado operator currently burning through their hours faster than they would have anticipated which throws their sustainment plans all out of whack. Budgets permitting etc"

Saudi must be adding some extra hours at present over the Yemen. But their Tornado's are a little younger than the UK's, Germany and Italy's.

[dmereifield]

Thanks for info. Do you know of any operators in that fits he bill:
" a Tornado operator currently burning through their hours faster than they would have anticipated which throws their sustainment plans all out of whack. Budgets permitting etc"

Saudi must be adding some extra hours at present over the Yemen. But their Tornado's are a little younger than the UK's, Germany and Italy's.

How's their Typhoon fleet doing? We really need to secure another order soon before the production line closes, in, what is it, 2018 or 2019?

[Timmymagic]

How's their Typhoon fleet doing? We really need to secure another order soon before the production line closes, in, what is it, 2018 or 2019?

Their Typhoon fleet is apparently in use over the Yemen and they're one of the drivers behind upgrades. With the oil price going back up and a better budgetary situation there is a greater chance of an order in the near future. Iran's involvement in the Yemen and their relationship with Russia has helped as well. The fact that the US has in the past refused to supply F-35 to Saudi has also helped. There is the possibility that the Saudi's may turn to the Chinese in the future but no one really knows if the Chinese will sell the J-20 or only the J-31. All in all the possibility of an order has increased in the last year.

But...the deal for 48 additional Typhoon has been 6 months away for some time..

[Timmymagic]

Some good news...double Meteor firing from Typhoon.



https://www.eurofighter.com/news-and-ev ... er-typhoon

[Gabriele]

In-service support for the Enhanced Paveway II has been extended to 31 March 2021. Together with AMRAAM, this is what will arm the Typhoon Tranche 1 until they last.

[Timmymagic]

In-service support for the Enhanced Paveway II has been extended to 31 March 2021. Together with AMRAAM, this is what will arm the Typhoon Tranche 1 until they last.

I suppose the contract will be extended out beyond that if necessary, but can the the weapons be re-lifed that far out? Could the Amraam C5's be life extended to 2030? Or are we going to have to purchase a small additional batch to see us through? Given C's could be used on T3 Typhoons and conceivably F-35 it wouldn't be an absolute disaster (probably knock a few numbers off the Meteor buy though).

[MRCA]

https://corporalfrisk.com/2017/05/16/un ... h-forward/

A gd summary of where typhoon is and what's round the corner

[dmereifield]

https://corporalfrisk.com/2017/05/16/un ... h-forward/

A gd summary of where typhoon is and what's round the corner

Thanks, interesting stuff. It says that Harpoon integration tests are i going for possible inclusion in P4E...does it make any sense to go down this route given that Harpoon is going out of service for the RN?

[MRCA]

Most likely not for the UK. Aimed at export customers who may wish to have that capability

[dmereifield]

I see. Are there likely to be any interested export customers? Are others keeping Harpoon in service significantly beyond 2018?

[RichardIC]

Harpoon is still in production and still being developed and getting new customers. The RN's (Block 1C) are going out of service because they date from the 80s and major components are becoming time expired - mainly the steam, valves and clockwork thingumy.

We could buy brand new up-to-date ones if it were judged a priority and the money was made available.

[dmereifield]

Harpoon is still in production and still being developed and getting new customers. The RN's (Block 1C) are going out of service because they date from the 80s and major components are becoming time expired - mainly the steam, valves and clockwork thingumy.

We could buy brand new up-to-date ones if it were judged a priority and the money was made available.

Thanks. Are these newer versions compatible with the older infrastructure?

[MRCA]

Yes Malaysia, Kuwait, primarily possibly Saudi, Oman

[shark bait]

excellent to see spear on the list