The air-to-ground capability which Typhoon used on ELLAMY, and which still exists today, is basic: Paveway II and Enhanced PW2 only. These have 1000lb warheads and the fuses are not programmable (for airburst, variable delay, etc) from the cockpit, which reduces flexibility especially when targeting in built-up areas. By contrast the PW4 has a smaller warhead and cockpit-programmable features.
As downsizer says, advanced weapons like PW4, Brimstone and Storm Shadow are not fully operational on Typhoon yet. To answer the obvious follow-up question, they will be, in time for Tornado's planned retirement. PW4 has been trialled and Storm Shadow has recently had its first flight. Only Tranche 2 and later aircraft will be able to carry any of those weapons, and those aircraft are still in delivery. Even if enough PW4-capable aircraft could be mustered today, there's no prospect of Brimstone capability until much nearer Tornado's retirement date - and given how critical that weapon is, it will determine Typhoon's deployability on SHADER.
Why is it taking so long to get the weapons integrated? Answer: the other partner nations do not have the same degree of interest in adding air-to-ground capability to Typhoon. Some of them bought it purely as an air-to-air platform. Getting UK-specific weapons into the multinational programme of works requires give-and-take with other nations' priorities. The only way to do it quicker would be to go UDI with the desired configurations, but the aircraft would then be outside the master programme and (presumably) much more expensive to administer. With a cynical hat on, I could observe that the status quo protects Tornado quite nicely in SDSR. Deletion would be on the cards if Typhoon was already capable of augmenting it!
Also, Typhoon does more than just QRA - don't forget the Falklands and a recurring NATO commitment in the Baltics. They probably do have the capacity for more, but until they have the capability, there is not much point.
Last edited by Easy Street; 17th Nov 2015 at 17:33.