Eurofighter Typhoon

Official Eurofighter logo

Official Eurofighter logo

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multi-role canard-delta strike fighter aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers, Eurofighter GmbH, formed in 1983.

The series production of the Eurofighter Typhoon is now underway and the aircraft has formally entered service with the Italian Air Force. 'Initial Operational Capability' is expected to be declared by Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom in 2006. By December 2005 Austria had purchased 18 Typhoons, while Saudi Arabia had signed a MoU (but not a contract) for up to 72 from the United Kingdom.

Development

See also: Eurofighter Typhoon timeline.

In the mid 1970s France, Germany and the UK established the European Combat Aircraft programme (ECA). In 1979, following differing requirements (particularly the French requirement for carrier compatibility), British Aerospace (BAe) and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm proposed the European Combat Fighter (ECF). The development of different national prototypes and continued differences over specification lead to cancellation of the ECF programme in 1981.

As a result the Panavia partners (Germany, Italy and UK) launched the Agile Combat Aircraft (ACA) programme. Following the failure of Germany and Italy to fund development, the UK MoD paid £80 m to BAe, to develop the European Aircraft Programme demonstrator (EAP). In 1983 the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain launched the Future European Fighter Aircraft (F/EFA) programme. The aircraft was to have Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities.

In 1984 France reiterated its requirement for a carrier capable version and demanded a leading role. The UK, Germany and Italy opted out and established a new EFA programme. The following year France officially withdrew from the project to pursue its own ACX project, what was to become the Dassault Rafale.

Eurofighter Typhoon T.1 of the Royal Air Force. The dark patch in the centre of the fuselage is the exhaust of the Auxiliary Power Unit

Also in 1985 the BAe EAP was rolled out at BAe Warton, by this time also funded by MBB and BAe itself. The EAP first flew in August 1986. The Eurofighter bears a strong resemblance to the EAP. Design work continued over the next five years using data from the EAP. Initial requirements were: UK 250 aircraft, Germany 250, Italy 165, and Spain 100. The share of the production work was divided among the countries in proportion to their projected procurement - British Aerospace (33%), Daimler-Benz (33%), Aeritalia (21%), and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) (13%).

1986 also saw the establishment of the Munich based Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH to manage development of the project and EuroJet Turbo GmbH, the alliance of Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines, FiatAvio (now Avio) and ITP for development of the EJ200.

The maiden flight of the Eurofighter prototype took place on March 27 1994 (then just known as the Eurofighter EF 2000). Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm chief test pilot Peter Weger took the prototype on a test flight around Bavaria. The 1990s saw significant arguments over work share, the specification of the aircraft and even participation in the project.

When the final production contract was signed in 1997, the revised procurement totals were as follows: UK 232, Germany 180, Italy 121, and Spain 87. Production was again allotted according to procurement: British Aerospace (37%), DASA (29%), Aeritalia (19.5%), and CASA (14%).

The project has been named and renamed a number of times since its inception, having been known as EFA (European Fighter Aircraft), Eurofighter, EF2000 (Eurofighter 2000), and most recently Typhoon.

Production

The Eurofighter Typhoon is unique in modern combat aircraft in that there are four separate assembly lines . Each partner company assembles its own national aircraft, but builds the same parts of all 620 aircraft.

• Alenia
  • Left wing, outboard flaperons, rear fuselage sections
• BAE Systems
  • Front fuselage (including canards), canopy, dorsal spine, tail fin, inboard flaperons, rear fuselage section
• EADS Germany
  • Main centre fuselage
• EADS CASA
  • Right wing, leading edge slats

Production is divided into three "tranches" (see table below) with an incremental increase in capability with each tranche. Tranches are further divided up into batches and blocks, eg the RAF's Tranche one twin seaters are batch 1 T1s and batch 2 T1As.

Production Summary

Country	Tranche 1	Tranche 2	Tranche 3	Total
Austria	0	18	0	18
Germany	44	68	68	180
Italy	29	46	46	121
Saudi Arabia	0	(48)	(24)	(72)
Spain	20	33	34	87
UK	55	89	88	232
TOTAL	148	254 (302)	236 (260)	638 (710)

Exports

In 1999 the Greek government agreed to acquire 60 Typhoons in order to replace its existing second-generation combat aircraft. [4] However, the purchase was put on hold due to budgetary constraints, largely driven by other development programs and the need to cover the cost of the 2004 Summer Olympics. In June 2006 the government announced a 2.2 billion euro multiyear acquisition plan intended to provide the necessary budgetary framework to enable the purchase of a next-generation fighter over the next 10 years. The Typhoon is currently under consideration to fill this requirement, along with the F/A-22, Rafale and JSF. [5]

On July 2 2002, the Austrian government announced the decision to buy the Typhoon as its new air defence aircraft. The purchase of 18 Typhoons was finalised on July 1 2003, and included 18 aircraft, training for pilots and ground crew, logistics, maintenance, and a simulator.

After unsuccessful campaigns in South Korea and Singapore, on December 22 2005 it was announced that Saudi Arabia would purchase an undisclosed number of Typhoons [6].

Other countries which have expressed interest in the Typhoon are India , Denmark, Norway, Pakistan and Turkey, while the type was rejected by South Korea and Singapore. Less likely 'prospects' have reportedly included Chile and Brazil.

Combat performance

For a detailed comparison of the Typhoon and other fighters, see Comparison of 21st century fighter aircraft.

Its combination of agility, performance, stealth features and advanced avionics make it one of the most capable fighter aircraft currently in service. Compared to its rivals, Typhoon's cockpit and man/machine interface are claimed to be significantly advanced and intuitive, resulting in a lower pilot workload, building on the early glass cockpits pioneered by aircraft like the F/A-18 and Mirage 2000, looking similar, but working in a much more intuitive and effective way, with given operations requiring fewer pilot inputs.

The Typhoon's combat performance, particularly compared to the new F-22A Raptor and the upcoming F-35 fighter under development in the United States and the Dassault Rafale developed in France, has been the subject of much speculation. While making a reliable assessment is impossible with available information, there is a study by the UK's DERA comparing the Typhoon to other contemporary fighters. In it, the Typhoon was second only to the F-22A in combat performance. Especially in France, it is claimed that 10 years after this study, Typhoon hasn't shown evidence of any superiority during international competitions, though recent UK and US reports (in Flight Daily News, Aviation Week, Show News and Defence Analysis for example) indicate that the aircraft was the preferred technical solution in Singapore, though Typhoon was ousted from the competition before Rafale and F-15.

In March 2005, United States Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. Jumper, then the only person to have flown both the Typhoon and the Raptor, talked to Air Force Print News about these two aircraft. He said that "the Eurofighter is both agile and sophisticated, but is still difficult to compare to the F/A-22 Raptor. They are different kinds of airplanes to start with; it's like asking us to compare a NASCAR car with a Formula 1 car. They are both exciting in different ways, but they are designed for different levels of performance".

In June 2005, The Scotsman reported that, when 'attacked' by two USAF F-15E Eagle strike fighter aircraft, a Eurofighter on a 'Case White' conversion training sortie was able to out-manoeuvre the attacking aircrafts and "shoot them down" (i.e., achieve radar lock for a long enough period of time to accurately launch missiles, had this been real combat) .

While the Typhoon lacks the all-aspect stealth technology of the F-22A, the design does incorporate some low-observable features. Its actual detectability on radar is classified.

It is also capable of sustained supersonic cruise without using afterburners. The F-22A is the only other current fighter with supercruise capabilities. According to EADS, the maximum speed possible without reheat is Mach 1.5 in what EF GmbH regard as a 'clean' configuration - eg without tanks but with four BVRAAMs and two IR AAMs. (Supercruise performance drops to Mach 1.3 with a full air-to-air weapons load, including tanks). Rafale's supercruise capabilities have been described as marginal with the current engine (the aircraft failed to demonstrate the capability during the Singapore evaluation), while the F-22 by comparison can supercruise rather faster with a full internal weapons load.

Canards, an extreme lightweight construction (>70% carbon fibre composites) and the inherently unstable design with a quadruplex digital control system providing artificial stability allow superior agility both at supersonic speed and at very low speed.

The MBDA Meteor is the planned long-range air-to-air armament for the Typhoon. With Mach 4 capabilities, a longer range and greater manoeuvrability than the current AMRAAM it should prove a major advantage over fighters with less advanced missiles.

Air-to-ground capabilities

Always intended as a replacement for RAF Jaguars as well as air defence roled Tornado F.Mk 3s, Typhoon has always been planned to be a swing role tactical fighter with robust air-to-ground capabilities. The RAF's urgent air-to-ground requirement has driven the integration of an 'austere' air to ground capability, based on the Litening III laser designator and the Enhanced Paveway II G/LGB, earlier than was originally planned. This will now be available in the Block 5 aircraft delivered at the end of Tranche 1 - and, by retrofit, on all RAF Tranche 1 jets.

Testing of the latest air-to-ground Flight Control Software (FCS Phase 5), written by an EADS led team, began in 2006. The software will undergo rigorous testing in all four partner nations and six aircraft will be used for testing and validating the required clearances. Completion of these tests will lead to the final clearances for the Full Operational Capability (FOC) specified under the Main Development Contract. This is expected in early 2007 in time for the first Tranche 1 Block 5 aircraft. The first Block 5 aircraft is already in final assembly in Germany.

Alongside the Phase 5 software tests, the FOC avionics functionality (including the new Eurofighter Typhoon pilot helmet) is now also undergoing flight testing, following the conclusion of rig tests in 2005. The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) issued a clearance for flight testing in December 2005.

Eurofighter GmbH are making progress towards achieving an air-to-ground capability on the Eurofighter Typhoon. The absence of such a capability is believed to have been of pivotal importance in the type's rejection from Singapore's fighter competition in 2005. When the Typhoon was dropped from the final shortlist the Singaporean MINDEF commented that: “the committed schedule for the delivery of the Typhoon and its systems did not meet the requirements of the RSAF.”

Flight Daily News and other magazines reported that Singapore was concerned about delivery timescales and by the Eurofighter partner nations' inability to accurately and finally define the content of the Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 Typhoon capability packages. Singapore needed Tranche 2 capabilities that were 'road-mapped' but which are still unfunded, and wanted them in a timescale that required Tranche 1 aircraft.

The interim 'austere' air-to-ground capability being developed for the RAF Block 5 aircraft fell far short of the capability required but even this had not been fully funded by the time Typhoon was rejected by the RSAF.

Despite this, according to Flight Daily News, Typhoon reportedly impressed the RSAF evaluation team enough to be the air force's favoured 'technical solution' though a "shambolic performance by BAE Systems during the early part of the bidding process" undermined the Typhoon's chances.

By addressing the aircraft's lack of air-to-ground capability, Eurofighter GmbH hope to increase the Typhoon's appeal to other potential export customers, and to make the aircraft more useful to partner air forces.

Problems

In 2001, it was announced that the RAF would not use the aircraft's internal cannon. This is not due to any perceived inadequacy in the cannon, but instead reflected a need to save money by removing gun support costs, ammunition stocks, training costs, etc. The gun was also deemed unnecessary since the missile armament was believed to be adequate in the Typhoon's fighter role. [7] However, because removal of the cannon would affect the aircraft's flight characteristics, requiring modification of the aircraft's flight software the RAF decided that all of its Typhoons would be fitted with the cannon but that it would not be used or supported. The service argued that this would save money by reducing the requirement for ground equipment, removing training costs and avoiding the fatigue effects of firing the cannon. The RAF maintains the option to activate the cannons at very short notice should operational requirements change. [8]

Though most of the programme's problems have been political, with major delays imposed by funding delays and governmental procrastination, the Typhoon has suffered some minor technical problems.

On 21 November 2002, DA-6, the Spanish two-seater prototype crashed due to an engine problem. The problem was said to be specifically related to the experimental trial standard of engine being used by that aircraft.

In May 2004, the London Evening Standard reported that QinetiQ's official "release to service recommendations" report had revealed that without an automatic low speed recovery (ALSR) system there was a real risk of a disastrous and irrecoverable loss of control in flight, that there was an "unquantifiable risk" that computer corruption problems could cause a "catastrophic" failure and that because of information display failures the aircraft should not fly in cloud or perform "dynamic manoeuvres" unless it carried a second, fully-trained safety pilot.

Air Vice-Marshal David Walker, the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, disagreed with what some called QinetiQ's over-cautious approach, and approved the Eurofighter's release to service on 13 May, two weeks after receiving the report. All of the issues raised were, in any case, soon solved. [9]

In 2004 German newspapers reported that the few Eurofighters in service with the Luftwaffe did not then meet specifications. Because of technical difficulties, the aircraft was reportedly only allowed to take off without cannon ammunition and at moderate temperatures. Eurofighter Gmbh and the Luftwaffe denied these claims. It is important to note that it was always planned that early aircraft would be delivered at a baseline state, with capability to be increased incrementally. BAE has stated that the capability of the aircraft will increase at a faster rate than the training of pilots.

On 16 January 2006 an RAF Typhoon T1 made an emergency landing at RAF Coningsby. The nosewheel failed to deploy, via either the normal or emergency systems. The aircraft landed on the main gear and used aerodynamic braking whilst simultaneously deploying the brake chute. The nose was then gently lowered, minimising the damage to the aircraft. The pilots vacated the aircraft once a suitable ladder was positioned next to the aircraft.[10]

Versions

File:Eurofighter.JPG

Eurofighter prototype on display at Dubai Air Show 1998

• Development aircraft (DA)- Seven aircraft with varying equipment fits and missions
  • DA1 (Germany) - Airframe, engine and Flight Control Software (FCS)
  • DA2 (United Kingdom) - FCS development and envelope expansion
  • DA3 (Italy) - Weapons systems development
  • DA4 (United Kingdom) - Radar and avionics development, being upgraded to Tranche 2 standard
  • DA5 (Germany) - Radar and avionics development, being upgraded to Tranche 2 standard
  • DA6 (Spain) - Airframe development and handling (crashed)
  • DA7 (Italy) - Navigation, avionics and missile carriage
• Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) - Five production standard aircraft for further system development
  • IPA1 (United Kingdom) - Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS)
  • IPA2 (Italy) - Air-to-surface weapons integration
  • IPA3 (Germany) - Air-to-air weapons integration
  • IPA4 (Spain) - Air-to-surface weapons integration and environmental development
  • IPA5 (United Kingdom) - Air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons integration
• Series Production Aircraft (SPA) - Production aircraft for partner nations.
  • RAF Typhoon T1 - UK twin seat trainer
  • RAF Typhoon F2 - UK single seat operational fighter

Commercial flight simulators

• The Eurofighter Typhoon is featured in many console/PC flight sims. One of the more prominent is EF-2000, by Digital Image Design.

Specifications (Typhoon)

EJ200 Eurofighter Turbine

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 or 2

Performance

• Thrust/weight: 0.87

Armament

• 1x 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon
• AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 HARM, AGM Armiger, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, AIM-120 AMRAAM, IRIS-T, MBDA Meteor, ALARMs, Storm Shadow (AKA "Scalp EG"), Brimstone, Taurus, Penguin
• Paveway 2, Paveway 3, Enhanced Paveway, JDAM
• Laser designator, e.g. LITENING pod

External links

• Official Eurofighter website
• DefenceTalk.com - Military Pictures, Defence News and Discussions!
• The Eurofighter in the Austrian Air Force

Related content

• European defence procurement

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• F-35 Lighting II
• F-22 Raptor
• Sukhoi Su-30 MKI
• Sukhoi Su-37
• Dassault Rafale
• Mikoyan Project 1.44
• J-XX
• Saab Gripen

Related lists

• List of active United Kingdom military aircraft