Timmymagic wrote:I would have thought that plumbing for tanks and the redesign work involved would cost more than finishing off the conformal development work and open up far more sales/upgrade potential from other users
SW1 wrote:That would depend on exactly what is required to integrate and clear either configuration. It maybe cheaper to integrate the tank option across all a/c variants, it may not be possible to do that with conformal tanks.
SW1 wrote:Also a consideration maybe performance limitations on the a/c with conformal tanks, once there on there likely not coming off, drop tanks would give more flexibility
Timmymagic wrote:SW1 wrote:That would depend on exactly what is required to integrate and clear either configuration. It maybe cheaper to integrate the tank option across all a/c variants, it may not be possible to do that with conformal tanks.
It's definitely not possible to integrate the conformals across all Typhoon variants. Neither T1 or T2 have the mounting points. I suspect T2 could be retrofitted (at no doubt enormous cost), but T1 apparently is a no-no (but also with an OSD of 2030 why would you bother). From everything I've heard and read the engineering work to make those 2 pylons 'wet' is considerable, so much so that a new wing is required. Hence the reason why new production is preferred to do it.SW1 wrote:Also a consideration maybe performance limitations on the a/c with conformal tanks, once there on there likely not coming off, drop tanks would give more flexibility
Agreed on the conformals. If any were fitted they'd be permanent to all intents and purposes.
But thinking about it...
One thing that isn't clear from the Typhoon ECR proposal illustration is which variant Airbus were proposing. A 2-seater would make sense for the ECR mission, the image shown is an underside so it isn't clear if that is the case or not. If a 2 seater was being proposed the additional seat sacrifices some internal fuel capacity. And from all of the images that we've seen of the conformal tanks (which were always on single seaters) it doesn't look like the conformals would work on a 2 seater, you just couldn't get into or out of the cockpit. That might be why Airbus were showing a potential new wet pylon arrangement. They perhaps need a 2 seater for the ECR mission, but conformals won't work. With the reduction in fuel capacity of the 2 seater and the location of the jammer pods perhaps the only way to get additional fuel onboard is to make those pylons wet.
SW1 wrote:A 2 seat option for strategic missions may certainly appear.
Timmymagic wrote:we'll just have to be satisfied with 143 Typhoon....
bobp wrote:Surely these would have to be new build AC as the ECR version is supposed to be a 2 seater. So plumbing in new wing fuel positions would be possible.
To be honest it looks like a bit of an act of desperation, if the conformals could have been made to work they would have gone down that route as it would have opened up potential sales of conformal tanks to users with Tranche 3 Typhoons.
Gabriele wrote:Absolutely. If Conformals were feasible, they would be the No 1 option on every list.
Timmymagic wrote:No twin stick by the look of it.
Lord Jim wrote:I wonder if they could adapt the AMRAAM/Meteor stations to allow the fitting of slimline ECW pods, possibly by increasing the number of power and other connectors. Installing two such pods on the front two stations would produce less drag as a minor benefit and not take up existing pylons. Just a thought.
SW1 wrote:https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dubai-raf-to-use-typhoon-as-testbed-for-tempest-d-462280/
Typhoon development plays a critical role in that,” he says. “Our commitment to upgrade Typhoon technology including weapons, sensors and defensive aids will be the technology testbed for Tempest, and will make sure that Typhoon remains the backbone of our combat air force well into the 2040s.”
In particular, the Eurofighter joint venture that builds the Typhoon will get practice upgrading the aircraft with a new electronically scanned radar, the Saab Smart Dispenser System and Rafael Litening 5 targeting pod, he says.
Ron5 wrote:SW1 wrote:https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dubai-raf-to-use-typhoon-as-testbed-for-tempest-d-462280/
Typhoon development plays a critical role in that,” he says. “Our commitment to upgrade Typhoon technology including weapons, sensors and defensive aids will be the technology testbed for Tempest, and will make sure that Typhoon remains the backbone of our combat air force well into the 2040s.”
In particular, the Eurofighter joint venture that builds the Typhoon will get practice upgrading the aircraft with a new electronically scanned radar, the Saab Smart Dispenser System and Rafael Litening 5 targeting pod, he says.
Alternative title for the article: "RAF man says spend more money on me, me, meeeee"
SW1 wrote:Saab says the EAJP “is a strong complement” to the electronic warfare system on its new Gripen E/F, but notes that the same technology can be adapted for use with other aircraft types, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon.
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