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Eurofighter Typhoon is moving a step forward to become a true
multi-mission fighter. By the end of March 2007 Eurofighter
GmbH, the aircraft manufacturer was officially contracted to
extend the capabilities of the aircraft beyond those already
delivered with Tranche 1, based on the Main Development Contract.
The next stage will focus on air-to-surface capabilities and
communication improvements.
The Phase 1 Enhancement program associated with Tranche 2 aircraft
will include the integration of new air-to-ground weapons such
as Paveway IV and the EGBU-16 (Enhanced Guided Bomb Unit) alongside
integrating a Laser Designator Pod (LDP) into Tranche 2 aircraft
of all four partner nations. Besides the introduction of air-to-ground
weapons, Phase 1 will also provide for full digital integration
of the IRIS-T air-to-air missile, in service with Germany, Italy
and Spain.
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Phase 2 Enhancement, currently in planning, will introduce
further improvements for Trance 2 aircraft, focusing on the
integration of standoff weapons like Storm Shadow and Taurus.
The final Tranche 1 capability already covers air-to-ground
operations with Paveway II and GBU-10/16 Laser Guided Bombs
(LGB) plus conventional bombs and the gun. The Royal Air Force
will receive Tranche 1 aircraft with an integrated LDP already
next year. First RAF aircraft to be upgraded under the new Future
Capability Programme (FCP) are expected to enter service early
in the next decade.
To maintain the single seat aircraft capability in both air-to-air
and air-to-ground capabilities, the Human Machine Interface
of Tranche 2 aircraft will receive performance upgrades required
for the simultaneous Swing Role operation, allowing a pilot
to continue a bomb run while at the same time fight air attacks
by minimizing the pilot's workload in complex air warfare scenarios.
Further extension of the MIDS performance (Multifunctional Information
and Distribution System) is a substantial contribution to this
objective.
Meanwhile, flight testing of the Typhoon continues, as the
fleet recently marked 5,000 flight hours milestone. Test fleets
currently focus on testing and evaluation of new software to
improve the capability of sub-systems thus increasing the overall
weapon system performance. Another effort is focused on electro-optical
systems, finalising the work on the Infra-Red Search and Track
(IRST)/ Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR), and the new helmet
sight. Integration of the Litening Laser Designator Pod (under
contract for the Royal Air Force) continues. Further tests are
planned to evaluate the new CAESAR electronic scanning radar
antenna, considerd for the enhanced radar under development
by the EURORADAR consortium as a potential replacement for current
CAPTOR radar.
 Testing
and evaluation of the new European Long Range Air-To-Air Missile,
Meteor is also uderway in Spain and Italy. During five test
flights in March 2007, the Meteor was flown by the fourth test
aircraft (Spanish) in Moron, Spain on the front and rear fuselage
stations in order to collect data on how the missile responds
in the vibration, load and temperature environments. Further
flights are scheduled later in April 2007 in Italy, where Meteor
is planned to fly on the outboard pylons of Eurofighter Typhoon.
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