Eurofighter Typhoon

[inst]

How much has AMK improved the Typhoon's maneuverability? I'm interested in it due to its similarity to the J-20 planform, which is also a long-coupled lerx canard with strakes, although the Eurofighter lacks ventrals.

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

currently it HASN'T improved the maneuverability as no one has PURCHASED them. In testing ... “We saw angle-of-attack values around 45% greater than on the standard aircraft, and roll rates up to 100% higher, all leading to increased agility,” says Eurofighter project pilot Raffaele Beltrame. “The handling qualities appeared to be markedly improved, providing more manoeuvrability, agility and precision while performing tasks representative of in-service operations."

[marsavian]

I suspect new German Typhoons will have AMK as it was primarily their development.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150715200 ... completed/

The Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK) is part of a wider Eurofighter Enhanced Manoeuvrability (EFEM) programme with the potential to help ensure the type’s continuing superiority for many years to come.

It entails primarily the addition of fuselage strakes and leading-edge root extensions, which increase the maximum lift created by the wing by 25% - resulting in an increased turn rate, tighter turning radius, and improved nose-pointing ability at low speed – all critical fighter capabilities in air-to-air combat.

The introduction of the AMK will not only enhance the Eurofighter’s current capability as a swing-role fighter-bomber, but will provide additional growth potential, enabling easier integration of future air–to-surface configurations and much more flexible applications, vastly enhancing the aircraft’s mission effectiveness in the air-to-surface role.

Eurofighter Project Pilot Germany Raffaele Beltrame said: “This programme has been a tremendous success with very impressive results – in some areas even better than we expected.

“We saw angle of attack values around 45% greater than on the standard aircraft, and roll rates up to 100% higher, all leading to increased agility. The handling qualities appeared to be markedly improved, providing more manoeuvrability, agility and precision while performing tasks representative of in-service operations. And it is extremely interesting to consider the potential benefits in the air-to-surface configuration thanks to the increased variety and flexibility of stores that can be carried.

“It´s right to say that the EFEM/AMK work has allowed us to discover a new aircraft with much higher performance and greater potential to meet the challenges of the years ahead.”

The flight trials followed some five years of studies. Eurofighter test pilots, joined in the latter stages by operational pilots from Germany, Italy and the UK, completed 36 sorties from Manching, Germany on the IPA7 Instrumented Production Aircraft.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... rm-401344/

Separately, Eurofighter is also updating its aerodynamics, promising to improve the combat aircraft’s subsonic turn rate by 15%. By year-end it expects to make is final proof-of-concept test flight on an aerodynamic modification kit including leading edge root extensions and extended trailing edge flaps. The kit also features reshaped side-of-cockpit ILS antennae covers, turning them into 70° delta strakes.

Laurie Hilditch, head of future capabilities at Eurofighter, says the modification kit should give the aircraft the sort of “knife-fight in a phone box” turning capability enjoyed by rivals such as Boeing’s F/A-18E/F or the Lockheed Martin F-16, without sacrificing the transonic and supersonic high-energy agility inherent to its delta wing-canard configuration.

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

Until I see a funded "AMK will be included in this countries upgrade" I don;t assume anything.

[falcon.16]

Typhoon has not been designed well for the strike role with its fuel tank wing store being the only heavy wing store capable of carrying cruise missiles leading to an either choice between the two. Also only light supersonic fuel tanks have been developed so far so it really is only a light strike fighter, Rafale embarrasses it with all of its air to ground options and fully utilizes the capacity of the twin engined airframe of its class unlike Typhoon. Typhoon really still after all this time primarily only shines as a fast interceptor.

I thinl that Typhoon and rafale bring similar air to ground payload. Around 10.000 kgs.

[marsavian]

Typhoon can carry 7,500 kg of total payload above its fueled weight which will obviously include AAMs and EFTs. Rafale can carry 9,500 kg of total payload above its fueled weight with 85% of the Typhoon thrust. Which is the more efficient design as regards stores ?

[falcon.16]

Typhoon can carry 7,500 kg of total payload above its fueled weight which will obviously include AAMs and EFTs. Rafale can carry 9,500 kg of total payload above its fueled weight with 85% of the Typhoon thrust. Which is the more efficient design as regards stores ?

I though it was similar payload. How can be so much diference?

Here, it tells 6500 kg for Typhoon, it is 3000 kgs less than Rafale. And really i think Rafale is smaller than Typhoon.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military ... -specs.htm

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

Typhoon can carry 7,500 kg of total payload above its fueled weight which will obviously include AAMs and EFTs. Rafale can carry 9,500 kg of total payload above its fueled weight with 85% of the Typhoon thrust. Which is the more efficient design as regards stores ?

I though it was similar payload. How can be so much diference?

Here, it tells 6500 kg for Typhoon, it is 3000 kgs less than Rafale. And really i think Rafale is smaller than Typhoon.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military ... -specs.htm

I'ts not about total size, it's about design of the hardpoints and design gross weight.

[marsavian]

Final 160th RAF Typhoon delivered (in service numbers around 130-140 as Tranche 1 two seaters already turned into spares)

https://theaviationist.com/2019/10/03/f ... air-force/

Future updates

[marsavian]

EuroDASS unveils plan for new Typhoon DASS/EW suite

https://www.janes.com/article/92058/eur ... s-ew-suite
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... ro-461627/

[hornetfinn]

EuroDASS unveils plan for new Typhoon DASS/EW suite

It'd be quite important as EW suite was said to be weak point for EF Typhoon compared to Rafale and Gripen in Swiss evaluation ten years ago. It's just rather old design which limits performance and upgrade options.

[marsavian]

Berlin targets Eurofighter AESA deal and top-up buy

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... uy-462067/

Germany appears poised to advance a joint programme with Spain to equip the nations’ later-model Eurofighters with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, as Berlin also nears approving the acquisition of 38 new aircraft to replace its Tranche 1-standard interceptors.

A deal should be finalised late this year or in early 2020 with deliveries for both nations to commence in 2022. To be supplied by the Leonardo-led Euroradar consortium, the new “E-Scan Mk1” radar sets will be retrofitted to 110 Tranche 2 and 3 jets for Germany, while Spain plans to acquire an initial batch of 19 units.

Rossner notes that export buyers Kuwait and Qatar will receive Eurofighter Typhoons with “Mk1A” radars, with the German and Spanish configuration differing through the use of new multi-channel receiver technology. He indicates that the UK plans to field a future “Mk2” sensor optimised for electronic warfare tasks to complement operations with its Lockheed Martin F-35s.

Longer term, Airbus is pursuing a requirement to replace the German air force’s Panavia Tornado fleet by 2030. It is proposing to supply 45 Eurofighters with “strategic capabilities” – including nuclear weapons – and 40 in an electronic combat reconnaissance/suppression of enemy air-defence configuration suitable for use in an escort jammer role.

[swiss]

Interview with a German Typhoon Pilot.

I dint know the EF can do 9g with 2 bags. Also very impressive from 200 kt to supersonic in 5 sec at 200 Ft!?

[marsavian]

First Kuwaiti-configured Eurofighter makes maiden flight

https://www.janes.com/article/93608/fir ... den-flight

The first Eurofighter combat aircraft configured for Kuwait made its maiden flight towards the end of 2019, the company announced.

Instrumented Series Production Aircraft (ISPA 6), equipped with the Kuwait Air Force configuration, departed the Flight Test Centre of Leonardo Aircraft Division in Turin-Caselle on 23 December 2019, Eurofighter tweeted on 9 January.

As noted by Eurofighter, ISPA 6 is the most advanced iteration of the aircraft to date, and while other elements have previously been flight tested, this is the first time that all of the enhancements have been brought together.

ISPA 6 is the first to fly the Captor E-Scan Radar with Phase Enhancement 3 b (P3Eb), for which Kuwait is to be the launch customer. Other enhancements for Kuwait include the Lockheed Martin Sniper advanced targeting pod, the introduction of the DRS-Cubic ACMI P5 combat training pod and an enhanced Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-Directional Range (VOR) navigation aid. The Kuwait Air Force will also have the option to employ the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile, MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, and the MBDA Brimstone low-yield air-to-surface missile.

https://mobile.twitter.com/eurofighter/ ... 3969796097
https://www.eurofighter.com/news-and-ev ... ever-flown

On the 23rd December 2019 at the Flight Test Centre of Leonardo Aircraft Division in Turin-Caselle, the first Instrumented Series Production Aircraft (ISPA 6) equipped with the Kuwait Air Force configuration has successfully completed its first flight.

The aircraft is the first to fly the innovative Captor E-Scan Radar with Phase Enhancement P3Eb, and is a key milestone for the entry into service of Eurofighter with the State of Kuwait.

This standard is the most advanced variant of the fighter jet ever made, with a package of capabilities that builds effectively on existing enhancement programmes.

A contract for the supply of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role fighter aircraft was signed between the Ministry of Defence of the State of Kuwait and Leonardo (on 05 April 2016) through its Aircraft Division acting as Eurofighter Prime Contractor Organisation.

With Captor E-Scan radar and several new additions to the weapon system, this variant will put the Kuwait Air Force at the front-line of the fighter technology when the aircraft will enter into service with the State of Kuwait in 2020.

While other aircraft in different Eurofighter Partner Companies are testing specific parts of this configuration, including the development of the E-Scan radar in UK and Germany, this is the first flight of the entire package that will be delivered to Kuwait.

The capability package for Kuwait includes the integration of Storm Shadow and Brimstone and other air-to-surface weapons. Moreover it foresees the integration of a new advanced laser designator pod (the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod) that will expand Eurofighter’s portfolio of cleared laser designator pods; the introduction of the DRS-Cubic ACMI P5 combat training pod and an enhanced navigation aid (VOR).

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

sadly still no mention of AMK