Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon

The Eurofighter Typhoon is truly cosmopolitan. Designed and constructed by a consortium of companies under contract to the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. The collective military requirements of the Partner Nations are the foundation of the Eurofighter Typhoon Weapon System. Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly agile Air Superiority and Air-to-Surface, multi-role/swing-role weapon system.

Features of Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon

The twin-engine Eurofighter Typhoon blends a potent mixture of capability, survivability, design and production values that rival any aircraft offered up in the West. The system features the latest in voice-controlled activation, digital computer processors, advanced fly-by-wire control and powerful afterburning turbojet engines to propel it well into the next decade.

The Typhoon features a host of tracking, targeting, avionics and weapons packages that offer up potent potentiality in any combat theater. Canard foreplanes add a level of agility.

In terms of stealth capability, the system was designed from the outset to produce only a small radar signature. Features include low frontal Radar Cross Section (RCS), passive sensors and supercruise capability.

Variants

The Eurofighter is produced in single-seat and twin-seat variants. The twin-seat variant is not used operationally, but only for training. The aircraft has been manufactured in three major standards; seven Development Aircraft (DA), seven production standard Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) for further system development and a continuing number of Series Production Aircraft. The production aircraft are now operational with the partner nation's air forces.

The Tranche 1 aircraft were produced from 2000 onwards. Aircraft capabilities are being increased incrementally, with each software upgrade resulting in a different standard, known as blocks.With the introduction of the Block 5 standard, the R2 retrofit programme began to bring all aircraft to that standard.

Product Life Cycle

The Chiefs of Air Staff of the four nations (Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom) agree on the revised European Common Staff Requirement-Development for the development of a new European fighter aircraft in January 1994. The first Eurofighter, DA1 makes its first flight from Manching, Germany in March 1994. The Defence Ministers of the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bonn , covering Production Investment and Production and Logistic Support in December 1997. Eurofighter GmbH and NETMA sign the Production Investment, Production and Support contracts for 620 Eurofighter aircraft for the air forces of the UK , Germany , Italy and Spain in January 1998. Maiden flights of the first four Series Production Aircraft (SPA) in the four Eurofighter Partner Nations - Germany , Italy , Spain and the United Kingdom in February 2003 . This event is a milestone for the Eurofighter Typhoon programme as it approaches Entry to Service. Delivery of Single Seaters started in December 2004, with Spanish & Italian Air Forces to receive the first aircrafts. Germany and UK will follow shortly.

Unit cost GB₤ 69.3 million

Specifications:

Dimensions:

Length: 52.36ft (15.96m)
Width: 35.93ft (10.95m)
Height: 17.32ft (5.28m)

Structure:

Accommodation: 1
Hardpoints: 9
Empty Weight: 22,024lbs (9,990kg)
MTOW: 46,297lbs (21,000kg)

Performance:

Max Speed: 1,255mph (2,020kmh; 1,091kts)
Max Range: 864miles (1,390km)
Rate-of-Climb:17,500ft/min (5,334m/min)
Service Ceiling: 55,036ft (16,775m; 10.4miles)

Powerplant:

Engine(s): 2 x EJ200 afterburning turbofans generating 20,250 lbs of thrust.

Armament Suite:

1 x 27mm cannon

Mission specific armament includes:

ASRAAM air-to-air missiles
IRIS-T air-to-air missiles
AMRAAM long range air-to-air missiles
Meteor long range air-to-air missiles
Storm Shadow stand-off missiles
KEPD350 Stand-off missiles
ALARM anti-radar missiles
GBU-10 laser-guided bombs
GBU-12 laser-guided bombs
Brimstone anti-armor weapon

External carrying ordnance up to 6,500 kg (14,330 lbs).