Eurofighter Typhoon News and updates

[waz]

@Blue Marlin sat in the cockpit of a typhoon and surprisingly it was ok. I'm quite tall and I thought i'd have my knees in my face.

 

[Blue Marlin]

@Blue Marlin sat in the cockpit of a typhoon and surprisingly it was ok. I'm quite tall and I thought i'd have my knees in my face.

Lucky sh*t, i live right next to warton and i only see them and hear them! you must have sat in one at RIAT 2015 correct?

 

[waz]

Lucky sh*t, i live right next to warton and i only see them and hear them! you must have sat in one at RIAT 2015 correct?

Yes, and plenty of other times exhibitions, RAF recruitment etc.

 

[Blue Marlin]

 

[Blue Marlin]

 

[Blue Marlin]

 

[Blue Marlin]

 

[Blue Marlin]

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Question: The airplane was born in the last period of the cold war and was designed for air defense.

How would you describe its evolution since its origins?

Lars Joergensen: The plane was conceived in the 1980s, designed in the 1990s and built in the 2000s. It was produced and used in the first decade of the 21st century as an air defense or air superiority fighter. Its combat systems were optimized for those missions.

It was designed to fight and win the air-to-air battle and assist in clearing the skies to enable the ground attack mission then to succeed against the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. It could always carry ground strike weapons, but that was in the context of a second phase after performing the mission it was optimized for.

Now with the incorporation of the Tornado missions by Eurofighter, the multi-mission capabilities are being shaped and implemented for the aircraft.

And for the RAF and the IAF, there has been a plan for some time to fly both the F-35 and the Eurofighter together and in so doing the Eurofighter is being modified and modernized as part of their approach to air combat operations.

They are planning for the cross-use of these airplanes and sharing many of the same weapons.

And even if they fly many of the same weapons, they are planning to use the planes and those weapons differently in shaping their approach to 21st century air operations.

Question: You were showing me earlier, the nature of the core computer system in the aircraft and the evolving dynamics of change.

Could you explain the baseline concept as well as the approach to change?

Lars Joergensen: The systems architecture is built around a federated system where each computer communicate with each other via high-speed data busses.

Each of the combat sub-systems was housed in separate physical computers as part of the avionic system running the aircraft.

And each of these sub-systems, such as communications, display & control, attack, flight control, etc. was tasked to one of the four core Eurofighter companies.

But technology has changed, computer processing speed has increased dramatically, and now we are looking at the computers in the aircraft less as blocks of capabilities, than as cluster of slots housing GigaHertz clock speed processors, which can add, enhanced capabilities and provide some key data fusing functionalities.

We have learned that too much integration can actually be a disadvantage as it removes the flexibility to quickly add on new functionality.

One could say that our way of now clustering processors with high communication needs to “slots” which then exchange data via a lower bandwidth bus is an optimized compromise of an integrated architecture.

So in my view we found the optimum compromise, which also provides for significant redundancy, which is a good thing in the evolving era of what your team has called Tron Warfare.

Obviously, integration is necessary to ensure flight integrity, but because integration occurs through the avionics bus this clearly is a key focus of attention as we modernized the airplane.

And of course, some classic capabilities can be modernized but the basic system works so well that it is modernization more for security purposes than anything else. Here I have in mind the flight control system which is central to managing an aircraft which is designed inherently to be unstable but stabilized by the flight control system. The plane is balanced and stabilized by the computer flight system.

And as we move forward, we will look at the slots in the computer systems as places where we can build in additional data links, or fuse data in conjunction with the pods and weapons on the aircraft as well.

Notably with regard to the communications ports and the attack identification ports we are looking at adding in more interactive capabilities for the aircraft.


Question: Let us focus on some additional modifications as well. Eurofighter has recently announced an upgrade of the aerodynamic system, which enables an expansion of the payloads to be delivered by the aircraft.

Could you discuss those innovations?

Lars Joergensen: By the addition of fuselage strakes and wing root extensions, we have increased the maximum lift created by the wing by 25% and increased increased yaw stability significantly at high AOA. The immediate benefit is increased turn rate, tighter turning radius, and enhanced nose-pointing ability at low-speed, which are essential fighter capabilities in air-to-air combat.

In addition, the kit provides extra growth potential, enabling easier integration of future air-to-surface configurations and flexible applications, enhancing the aircraft’s mission effectiveness in the air-to-surface role.

You can really now create some fancy weapon configurations on the airplane and still have a good aerodynamic robustness of the airplane, which helps you a lot when you’re clearing and certifying weapon loads because the certifier knows that this airplane is now very robust and able to deliver those weapons with a broader AOA.

Question: Earlier we discussed the F-16 and its analogy to how you see the Eurofighter evolving.

Could you return to that discussion and lay out how you see the significance of the F-16 analogy?

Lars Joergensen: Because the F-16 had a robust airframe, a very good thrust to weight ratio and a federated avionic architecture, it has been able to evolve way beyond the original concept of the airplane. By the constant addition of capabilities, it has grown significantly in weight over time, roughly a pound a day since 1974 through the late 1990s.

It was able to do so successfully because of its robust airframe, its good thrust to weight ratio and miniaturization of computers and of electronics.

Its federated avionic architecture made it possible to upgrade the weapon system stepwise and in competition – one of the “secrets” of its affordability. Just look at the multitude of EW systems and targeting pods available for the F-16.

And with the weapons development, notably the AMRAAM, suddenly even the F-16 could become an air superiority fighter and provide impacts similar to an F-15, something not envisaged when the F16 was designed.

Question: Let us return to the question of flying and fighting with 5th generation fighters. The British have flown with F-22s at Nellis and the Germans in the Alaska Red Flag.

What feedback have you had from those experiences?

Lars Joergensen: At a Farnborough Air Show a couple of years ago, we had discussions with some members of the Air Force Research Lab who were focused on how the F-22 and the Eurofighter made a powerful team in carrying out air strikes. Given the speed and high altitude both airplanes can fly at, they were interested in discussing how to weaponize such an air combat force.

As they put it, “We are firing third generation weapons from fifth generation aircraft and this makes no sense.”

And clearly they were interested in looking at the interaction between weapons in the internal bay of an F-22 allowing it to operate as a low observable aircraft and Eurofighter with its evolving payloads as an interesting way to shape a way forward.

With regard to Eurofighter we have own variation of flying older weapons as you saw in the cockpit simulator where we receive voice-warnings with regard to some weapons not being designed to operate at the speed which Eurofighter can operate and deliver weapons.

There are two other problems as well, namely data sharing and linking and IFF challenges.

How do we ensure friend and foe identification with a mixed combat force involving the F-22?

Question: With regard to weapons, obviously the coming of your AESA radar will facilitate change in interaction with weapons as well?

How would describe this change?

Lars Joergensen: Our current mechanically scanned radar has proven very good for the air to air mission.

With the AESA you have much more flexibility, and part of that flexibility will be to work with weapons differently in particular as a data facilitator.

The first new weapon were this will become very clear is Meteor where the airplane will interact with the data link on the missile to identify and destroy targets in a fluid air combat space. Other weapons will follow.

Thanks to the Eurofighter’s large nose aperture, combined with the ability to move the AESA antenna, we will be able to fire, guide and communicate with weapons “over the shoulder” so to speak while flying away from the threat, thus significantly enlarging our attack envelope with missiles.

Question: There is a clear interaction among changes in the aircraft, the weapons onboard the aircraft, and with upgrades in the sensor pods.

In a sense you are have a triangular approach to modernization?

Lars Joergensen: It is clear that a variety of Air Forces are using their sensor pods, including targeting pods, to provide a variety of information and quickly increase capabilities.

By combing those innovations with weapons innovation and tying them back to the aircraft you can get enhanced combat effect.

And given that the process of tranche upgrades inevitably will be slower than pod upgrades, this expands the ability to modernize at a more rapid pace than we could do simply through tranche upgrades on the aircraft itself.

Put another way, the “intelligence” of the weapon system can be described as the sum of the capabilities of the platform, the pod, the weapons and of course the other datalink participants.

And it is the sum of all these elements that turns you into an effective operational asset.

It is often easier to upgrade the pod instead of the platform.

For example during the Swiss flight evaluations, we turned the Tranche 1 Eurofighter platform into a really good recce-asset overnight by adding a pod and leave all the processing in the pod – there were no changes to the platform’s avionic system or software.

One can also use the intelligent weapons as sensors. For example, the Norwegian F-16 uses the IRIS-T seeker as very capable IRST.

And with the coming of Litening 5 to the Eurofighter, which then allows Eurofighter partners to determine how to use the slots in the pod to augment desired and relevant combat potential.

The press release concerning LItening 5 highlighted this point:

“Meanwhile, the miniaturization of some of the components used in the pod has left two empty spaces, which Oren says will allow customers to incorporate dedicated, and in many cases classified, features.”

Since we have a high capacity connection to the pod, these empty spaces can often be used as a quick fix to urgently needed Weapon System features.

Features you then might pack into the platform upgrades at a later time, when it fit with the general upgrade cycle.

 

[Blue Marlin]

Risk to Saudi Typhoon jet contract after prison row

A delicate negotiation to sell UK-built fighter jets to Saudi Arabia could be at risk after the Saudi ambassador attacked Britain for cancelling a prison contract over criticism of Riyadh’s human rights record.

In a rare public intervention, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz said that “if the extensive trade links between the two countries are going to be subordinate to certain political ideologies, then this vital commercial exchange is going to be at risk”.

Last week the UK Ministry of Justice pulled out of negotiations over a £5.9m prisons training contract. The move followed a personal plea from Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to the prime minister to scrap the deal after the Saudis sentenced a 17-year-old Shia protester to death by beheading.

The ambassador criticised Mr Corbyn’s intervention as an example of “mutual respect being breached”, adding in an article for the Daily Telegraph: “We will not be lectured to by anyone”.

The “alarming change” in the way Saudi Arabia was being discussed in Britain “should be worrying to all those who do not want to see potentially serious repercussions”, he added.

Overall UK-Saudi trade has blossomed in recent years, fuelled by rising Saudi spending through the oil boom years. The oil price slide has caused Riyadh to defer some projects but the kingdom is still borrowing and dipping into reserves to sustain the economy.

The ambassador said that more than 50,000 Britons were employed on Saudi commercial contracts “worth tens of billions of pounds”. Saudis have also invested £90bn in British businesses, he said.

Infrastructure contracts spanning transport, health and education, count among the most valuable prizes on offer to British companies. The kingdom’s more muscular regional foreign policy has also led to increased defence spending.

Saudi Arabia was Britain's biggest defence export market last year according to figures from the Campaign Against The Arms Trade, with nearly £4bn-worth of export licences issued in the past five years.

In 2007 BAE Systems signed a deal to export 72 Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia and the firm has since been negotiating a supplementary order. Time is running short — BAE said earlier this year that it would have to start cutting jobs and closing facilities next year if no new order materialised.

BAE chief executive Ian King said in February that he was confident that the company would land a new Typhoon order by the end of 2015.

Valued at several billion dollars, extensions to the so-called Al-Salam contract for Typhoon fighters would be among the biggest bilateral deals under discussion. Saudi Arabia has been using the plane in its war in Yemen, which has also required replenishments of UK-supplied ammunition.

Asked about the impact of any Saudi displeasure on the Typhoon negotiations, a BAE Systems spokesperson said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on any nation’s security or defence arrangements or potential future plans. Our focus is on performing well on the contracts we have. When we do that, further opportunities typically follow.”

The furore over the prisons deal divided the cabinet; under the deal British civil servants would have trained their Saudi counterparts. It was opposed by Michael Gove, justice secretary, whose predecessor, Chris Grayling, had pursued the contract.

Other cabinet members including Philip Hammond, foreign secretary, are understood to have supported the prisons deal, arguing that it would help to cement Britain’s relationship with Saudi Arabia.

The prison contract was not the only irritant in UK-Saudi relations. Prime minister David Cameron last week wrote to the Saudi government to protest about the “extremely concerning” case of Briton Karl Andree. Mr Andree was imprisoned in Saudi Arabia last year after being caught with homemade wine. Alcohol is illegal in the country.

“In the meetings that we have, whether that is at ministerial or official level, with the Saudi authorities, we continue to raise issues where we have concerns,” the prime minister’s official spokeswoman said on Monday.

Professor John Louth, director of the Defence, Industries and Society Programme at the Royal United Services Institute, said: “When some of the big Saudi deals were signed in the Blair years, it was thought that the UK would be well-placed for when the next generation of Saudi leaders took power and brought a commitment to opening up on human rights. But it is hard to be able to say how successful that has been.”

 

[Blue Marlin]

 

[HRM YANG]

I always ask Dutch People why dont they choose Typhoon, what a perfect plane for Royal airforce?!

 

[mike2000 is back]

Risk to Saudi Typhoon jet contract after prison row

View attachment 267487

A delicate negotiation to sell UK-built fighter jets to Saudi Arabia could be at risk after the Saudi ambassador attacked Britain for cancelling a prison contract over criticism of Riyadh’s human rights record.

In a rare public intervention, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz said that “if the extensive trade links between the two countries are going to be subordinate to certain political ideologies, then this vital commercial exchange is going to be at risk”.

Last week the UK Ministry of Justice pulled out of negotiations over a £5.9m prisons training contract. The move followed a personal plea from Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to the prime minister to scrap the deal after the Saudis sentenced a 17-year-old Shia protester to death by beheading.

The ambassador criticised Mr Corbyn’s intervention as an example of “mutual respect being breached”, adding in an article for the Daily Telegraph: “We will not be lectured to by anyone”.

The “alarming change” in the way Saudi Arabia was being discussed in Britain “should be worrying to all those who do not want to see potentially serious repercussions”, he added.

Overall UK-Saudi trade has blossomed in recent years, fuelled by rising Saudi spending through the oil boom years. The oil price slide has caused Riyadh to defer some projects but the kingdom is still borrowing and dipping into reserves to sustain the economy.

The ambassador said that more than 50,000 Britons were employed on Saudi commercial contracts “worth tens of billions of pounds”. Saudis have also invested £90bn in British businesses, he said.

Infrastructure contracts spanning transport, health and education, count among the most valuable prizes on offer to British companies. The kingdom’s more muscular regional foreign policy has also led to increased defence spending.

Saudi Arabia was Britain's biggest defence export market last year according to figures from the Campaign Against The Arms Trade, with nearly £4bn-worth of export licences issued in the past five years.

In 2007 BAE Systems signed a deal to export 72 Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia and the firm has since been negotiating a supplementary order. Time is running short — BAE said earlier this year that it would have to start cutting jobs and closing facilities next year if no new order materialised.

BAE chief executive Ian King said in February that he was confident that the company would land a new Typhoon order by the end of 2015.

Valued at several billion dollars, extensions to the so-called Al-Salam contract for Typhoon fighters would be among the biggest bilateral deals under discussion. Saudi Arabia has been using the plane in its war in Yemen, which has also required replenishments of UK-supplied ammunition.

Asked about the impact of any Saudi displeasure on the Typhoon negotiations, a BAE Systems spokesperson said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on any nation’s security or defence arrangements or potential future plans. Our focus is on performing well on the contracts we have. When we do that, further opportunities typically follow.”

The furore over the prisons deal divided the cabinet; under the deal British civil servants would have trained their Saudi counterparts. It was opposed by Michael Gove, justice secretary, whose predecessor, Chris Grayling, had pursued the contract.

Other cabinet members including Philip Hammond, foreign secretary, are understood to have supported the prisons deal, arguing that it would help to cement Britain’s relationship with Saudi Arabia.

The prison contract was not the only irritant in UK-Saudi relations. Prime minister David Cameron last week wrote to the Saudi government to protest about the “extremely concerning” case of Briton Karl Andree. Mr Andree was imprisoned in Saudi Arabia last year after being caught with homemade wine. Alcohol is illegal in the country.

“In the meetings that we have, whether that is at ministerial or official level, with the Saudi authorities, we continue to raise issues where we have concerns,” the prime minister’s official spokeswoman said on Monday.

Professor John Louth, director of the Defence, Industries and Society Programme at the Royal United Services Institute, said: “When some of the big Saudi deals were signed in the Blair years, it was thought that the UK would be well-placed for when the next generation of Saudi leaders took power and brought a commitment to opening up on human rights. But it is hard to be able to say how successful that has been.”

This is why i hate this our liberal 'human rights' activists/advocates. They seems to be making uslose many contracts lately. I dont even know why our leaders listens to them, especially when it comes to our interests and foreign policy. This is just madness. Let the Saudis and gulf countries treat their citizen the way they want, thats theirbusinessnot ours. We should give human rights/freedom to our own people as we are doing and let others handle their issues, not our business im afraid, esecially when it concerns our allies.

What surprisesme is how our government bends to these human rights advocates alot, meanwhile other western powers like the U.S and Franch government dont give a shit, they carry on their busiiness as usual just like it should be. No wonder France is winning more deals in the region than us lately. This stupid human rights activists we have in this country area joke. Our government listening to them is even more dumb. No wonder many extremists want to immigrate here, since they know we take human rights/freedom to another level as they can do what they like and their 'rights' will be protected unlike in other countries..

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You are doing a great job keeping this thread alive bro. Great pics of Typhoon. Our engineers did a great job on this fighter jet.

Not being nosy but your flags keep changing. You are a Chinese living in U.K bro or you born here? Maybe we could one day meet up for a drink.

 

[Blue Marlin]

This is why i hate this our liberal 'human rights' activists/advocates. They seems to be making uslose many contracts lately. I dont even know why our leaders listens to them, especially when it comes to our interests and foreign policy. This is just madness. Let the Saudis and gulf countries treat their citizen the way they want, thats theirbusinessnot ours. We should give human rights/freedom to our own people as we are doing and let others handle their issues, not our business im afraid, esecially when it concerns our allies.

What surprisesme is how our government bends to these human rights advocates alot, meanwhile other western powers like the U.S and Franch government dont give a shit, they carry on their busiiness as usual just like it should be. No wonder France is winning more deals in the region than us lately. This stupid human rights activists we have in this country area joke. Our government listening to them is even more dumb. No wonder many extremists want to immigrate here, since they know we take human rights/freedom to another level as they can do what they like and their 'rights' will be protected unlike in other countries..


You are doing a great job keeping this thread alive bro. Great pics of Typhoon. Our engineers did a great job on this fighter jet.

Not being nosy but your flags keep changing. You are a Chinese living in U.K bro or you born here? Maybe we could one day meet up for a drink.

i went to china for 2 weeks bro i came back on Tuesday (yesterday). im born and bred in uk. im from up north near where they make the typhoon.
in mid November im going to india. so my flag will change again.
which part of the uk you from?
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Eurofighter Typhoon amateur photo competition winners announced

Eurofighter's annual amateur photo-competition for aviation enthusiasts, was spoilt for choice this year as images poured in from around the world.

Now that the Eurofighter Typhoon is operational with six customers and 446 aircraft delivered, opportunities to photograph the iconic swing-role fighter are many and varied. From Air Shows to air strips, on exercise and on deployment, the Eurofighter is always active somewhere – either displaying to the crowds or scrambling while on Quick Reaction Alert.

However, it was this golden image of a Eurofighter Typhoon in repose (above) which captured the imagination of this year’s judging panel – and which wins keen amateur photographer, Michael Nussbaum, the opportunity to showcase his talent to a global audience in the 2016 Eurofighter Calendar.

Michael’s photograph convinced the judging panel with its highly defined tail-on view of the Eurofighter Typhoon taken in the ebbing light of a beautiful sunset. Technically strong, and artistically brilliant, it is his photo that will now grace the front cover of the Calendar – a photo which can be downloaded from the Eurofighter website.

In a tight decision the jury picked as second place winner Colin Mcleod, whose fantastic shot captures a ‘Battle of Britain’ painted Typhoon (above) during a powerful take off emphasising the poise and performance of the perfectly balanced fighter.

For the first time the competition featured the “Best Digital Enhanced” category. The creativity, skill and attention to detail in this category stunned the judges – but it was Brett Critchley who stole the day with this fabulous image of a Eurofighter Typhoon bursting through the valleys of the Mach Loop in Wales chased by a powerful bolt of lightning (above).

As it does every year, Eurofighter gives a prize to the best young photographer. This year, it was Jaden Shillingford who impressed the jury with his cleverly captured image of a high climbing Typhoon using full power and reheat (above).

Chief judge and professional aviation photographer Geoffrey Lee said: “As a judge, we find that every year selecting the best Eurofighter Typhoon images is getting more difficult to choose the winner as the standard, quality and diversity of the entries is so high. This year we have found three first class images. The winners can be proud of their success.”

 

[mike2000 is back]

i went to china for 2 weeks bro i came back on Tuesday (yesterday). im born and bred in uk. im from up north near where they make the typhoon.
in mid November im going to india. so my flag will change again.
which part of the uk you from?

Eurofighter Typhoon amateur photo competition winners announced

Eurofighter's annual amateur photo-competition for aviation enthusiasts, was spoilt for choice this year as images poured in from around the world.

Now that the Eurofighter Typhoon is operational with six customers and 446 aircraft delivered, opportunities to photograph the iconic swing-role fighter are many and varied. From Air Shows to air strips, on exercise and on deployment, the Eurofighter is always active somewhere – either displaying to the crowds or scrambling while on Quick Reaction Alert.

However, it was this golden image of a Eurofighter Typhoon in repose (above) which captured the imagination of this year’s judging panel – and which wins keen amateur photographer, Michael Nussbaum, the opportunity to showcase his talent to a global audience in the 2016 Eurofighter Calendar.

Michael’s photograph convinced the judging panel with its highly defined tail-on view of the Eurofighter Typhoon taken in the ebbing light of a beautiful sunset. Technically strong, and artistically brilliant, it is his photo that will now grace the front cover of the Calendar – a photo which can be downloaded from the Eurofighter website.

In a tight decision the jury picked as second place winner Colin Mcleod, whose fantastic shot captures a ‘Battle of Britain’ painted Typhoon (above) during a powerful take off emphasising the poise and performance of the perfectly balanced fighter.

For the first time the competition featured the “Best Digital Enhanced” category. The creativity, skill and attention to detail in this category stunned the judges – but it was Brett Critchley who stole the day with this fabulous image of a Eurofighter Typhoon bursting through the valleys of the Mach Loop in Wales chased by a powerful bolt of lightning (above).

As it does every year, Eurofighter gives a prize to the best young photographer. This year, it was Jaden Shillingford who impressed the jury with his cleverly captured image of a high climbing Typhoon using full power and reheat (above).

Chief judge and professional aviation photographer Geoffrey Lee said: “As a judge, we find that every year selecting the best Eurofighter Typhoon images is getting more difficult to choose the winner as the standard, quality and diversity of the entries is so high. This year we have found three first class images. The winners can be proud of their success.”

I'm from South Eastern part of London. In Belvedere, Dartford. But at the moment i work in Poole, Bournemouth. Very nice place with nice beaches. But i have to drive back to London everyday after work. But overall its anice place. Im even thinking of moving there with familly. Not sure yet though. Which part are you from?

How was your stay in China by the way? Hope you had a great time there. Its been a long time since i last travelled to China or even Asia in general. Have been planning to visit Vietnam and Laos, heard from my wife's best friend who travelled there with her husband recently for holidays that its a very nice place. Hopefully i will soon have the opportunity to travel there.

 

[Blue Marlin]

I'm from South Eastern part of London. In Belvedere, Dartford. But at the moment i work in Poole, Bournemouth. Very nice place with nice beaches. But i have to drive back to London everyday after work. But overall its anice place. Im even thinking of moving there with familly. Not sure yet though. Which part are you from?

i'm from east Lancashire. its always cold and wet. it's alright once you get use to it. it's cheap up here. in london cup of coffee, £5.00, here £1.00. houses are dirt cheap too. i love it up here. what do you work as? im into cyber security, and software engineering.