Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

[ArmChairCivvy]

how practical it would be for the RAF to take the Early tranches and get them stripped completley and rebuilt with current of next en radars and systems and the airframes refurbished?

The answer is no. The details are on TD; the "search" there is crap, though, so good luck. The best contributions on this topic were by "mark" - might help.

Maybe sommething along the French costs to upgrade Rafale F1 to F3? IIRC around 25 mil. euros per aircraft?

- either Frenchie or myself recently posted the right figure here recently (has slipped too deep on my hard drive, already, for retrieval)
- the F1s only came out of storage, for the upgrades, when foreign orders started flowing - until then the line was kept going by taking brand-new instead of upgrades

[abc123]

Yes, Frenchie posted the numbers.
It's 24 mil. euros per plane.

I heard somewhere that Tranche 1 Typhoons can't be equipped with AESA radar because it can't be put inside? Don't know why? Is that truth?

Or just the cost of modernising them to Tranche 3 would be prohibitly expencive?

[The Armchair Soldier]

Brimstone flight trials complete:

[Timmymagic]

It's hard to think of any other aircraft on earth that is as 'swing role' as that image. I know its missing the Sniper pod but it just looks like you could stick the same load on it again and it wouldn't be straining it.

We've really got to maximise our investment in Typhoon, and that image illustrates why. You've basically got the best air to air loadout of any aircraft on earth (4xMeteor, 2xAsraam and a BK-27) AND 2 fuel tanks, 6 Brimstone and 2 Paveway IV. Exchange the Brimstone for SPEAR III in due course and it gets even better. And it still looks like the only thing stopping it from carrying a whole lot more is that its run out of pylons.

[bobp]

Couldn't agree more with your statement the Typhoon looks a mean beast with all that weaponry. Yes we need more but sadly we don't have the money.

[Zealot]

We've really got to maximise our investment in Typhoon, and that image illustrates why. You've basically got the best air to air loadout of any aircraft on earth (4xMeteor, 2xAsraam and a BK-27) AND 2 fuel tanks, 6 Brimstone and 2 Paveway IV. Exchange the Brimstone for SPEAR III in due course and it gets even better. And it still looks like the only thing stopping it from carrying a whole lot more is that its run out of pylons.

Conformal fuel tanks will instantly free up two Pylons for additional Brimstone/Spear or Storm Shadow. They could also use more than one Paveway per pylon as well. Much like this set up;

Loadout.jpg

[ArmChairCivvy]

. I know its missing the Sniper pod

If you have ever seen a photo of a wide-area surveillance pod attached, you will understand that having also those on Typhoon makes the plane look like twins joined up at birth
- what are we going to do, not to lose the capabiility when Tornados go? Which is soon-ish
- put them on the drones that in a contested airspace are good for target practise, only? See the Future Combat Air thread

Conformal fuel tanks will instantly free up two Pylons for additional Brimstone/Spear or Storm Shadow.

- yep, that is what is needed
- just the loadout increases drag so much that you will need those bigger tanks
- not to mention that you will need SS to take out radars and command centres *(even if the latter have been hardened) at a distance and then finish off with the feebler Spear3 and short-ranged Brimstone

[shark bait]

But at it stands Spear is not funded for full integration on Typhoon, it's only being used for development tests.

RE Early tranches; I've always wondered if we could 'do a Growler' with them....

[ArmChairCivvy]

Spear is not funded for full integration on Typhoon, it's only being used for development tests.

Yes, it is only quite recent that it became the preferred alternative over the cheaper "glide bombs".

RE Early tranches; I've always wondered if we could 'do a Growler' with them....

Podded, may be. Internally we cannot even fit an AESA onto them.
- out of the near-200 Raptors the first 60 have similar upgrading issues; there was an initiative to fund their conversion into a SEAD/ DEAD role, so that the less stealthy F-35s could do the rest... a bit like our F-35s in the lead, and the Tiffies will do the rest

[shark bait]

Growler took the gun out and replaced it with fancy electronics, that's what I was referring to by 'do a Growler'. That would give us a chink of internal space to play with on a Typhoon if we really wanted to.

[Gabriele]

If the UK wants an EW escort capability, the easiest and perhaps only solution is Elettronica's new EDGE jammer pod. Being completely self-contained, it doesn't require changes to the aircraft itself. Swap the centerline fuel tank for this 5+ meters pod, and you have the ability to put up a wall of electronic disturb and a number of false radar returns on the enemy screens.

[Dahedd]

It's hard to think of any other aircraft on earth that is as 'swing role' as that image. I know its missing the Sniper pod but it just looks like you could stick the same load on it again and it wouldn't be straining it.

I maybe wrong but I seem to remember a picture of a Typhoon with a similar load but the forward right Meteor was replaced by a targeting pod. So only 3 meteors as opposed to 4.

They also need to sort out conformal tanks asap so it can carry a wider load & replace the Tornado.

[bobp]

Wouldn't converting a Typhoon into a "Growler" type entail the use of a second crew member to manage the electronics.

[Dahedd]

Ideally I'd imagine so. Use the two sweaters with conformal tanks, less weapons more pods.

(All very fantasy fleet I know)

[Defiance]

Ideally I'd imagine so. Use the two sweaters with conformal tanks, less weapons more pods.

(All very fantasy fleet I know)

Need to get someone to step up and say "i'll pay for conformal tanks!" first!

Would be keen to find out what the current state-of-play is with the common weapon launcher.

[ArmChairCivvy]

someone to step up and say "i'll pay for conformal tanks!" first!

Germany has formally stated thay they wont need them. the other partner nations have been dragging their heels on all upgrades... so who might it be?
- a tip: BAE has recommenced the wind-tunnel testing

[Defiance]

someone to step up and say "i'll pay for conformal tanks!" first!

Germany has formally stated thay they wont need them. the other partner nations have been dragging their heels on all upgrades... so who might it be?
- a tip: BAE has recommenced the wind-tunnel testing

Don't need conformal tanks for DCA work which is what the Germans intend to do, likely be the UK that pushes for it as the penchent for expeditionary ops increases (moreso than Italy at least).

[Little J]

What about a certain Middle Eastern country? Thought they like CFT's?

[Defiance]

What about a certain Middle Eastern country? Thought they like CFT's?

If it's KSA then they're a little money constrained at the minute, or they will be and it's all hands to the pumps to try and figure a way for that not to happen.

Maybe as part of batch 2

[dmereifield]

What about a certain Middle Eastern country? Thought they like CFT's?

If it's KSA then they're a little money constrained at the minute, or they will be and it's all hands to the pumps to try and figure a way for that not to happen.

Maybe as part of batch 2

If there is a batch 2......

[shark bait]

Kongsberg & BAE are integrating JSM on the typhoon, no mention of government funding, so im left assuming its a privately financed.

If it does end up on typhoon it certainly makes JSM look attractive for the UK, on F35, typhoon and P8 presumably at some point since the missiles sponsors are both P8 users. One missile for all three jets, that would be something!

Perhaps its also a role for the tranche 1's, which would otherwise have little to do in a couple of years?

This news comes from Malaysia, where BAE are pushing for a typhoon sale....

[dmereifield]

Interesting stuff. Any info on Malaysian requirements and the timeframe for making a decision?

[Jdam]

The potential platforms and option for teaming up for integrating the weapons does make it look attractive, typhoon integrating makes it look ever better.

A bit more at the link.

http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php ... ckage.html

Did they ever going ahead with the JSM and the MK 41 launcher tests?

[shark bait]

Interesting stuff. Any info on Malaysian requirements and the timeframe for making a decision?

Another Euro-Canard competition, 20 multi role aircraft with lots of industrial offsets wanted.

[dmereifield]

Interesting stuff. Any info on Malaysian requirements and the timeframe for making a decision?

Another Euro-Canard competition, 20 multi role aircraft with lots of industrial offsets wanted.

Thanks, so the American platforms are not in the running? I don't know about offsets, bit a bit of joined up thinking by HMG would help secure a lot of these deals, we invest a fortune into R&D to support economic development in Malaysia (and most of the developing world for that matter) through the Newton fund et al., it should count for something in these situations, we keep hearing about our soft power but it doesn't seem to be leveraged very well to me