Multi role Typhoon "Fully combat ready"

[PPRuNeUser0139]

BBC NEWS | UK | Eurofighter 'fully combat ready' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7481172.stm)

According to the Beeb it's the "jet for the Nintendo generation..." :ugh:

Does that mean it's good then..?

If so, well done :ok: to all concerned.

sv

edited to add this other link:
BBC NEWS | UK | The last test for the Typhoon (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7482638.stm)

[tonker]

I had a sneaky look at the model mockup in the missle musuem at Newton, and that was in 1983!

And 25 years later here you go, the capability of a late 80's F18.

[Delta Hotel]

I can't remember late-80's F18's dropping GPS guided weapons......:bored:

[The Helpful Stacker]

But I can remember the late 80's F/A-18's having problems with fatigue cracks appearing, very short range compared to other such aircraft and a poor weapon load though, of course don't let any of this distract anyone from a bit of Typhoon bashing.

[Zoom]

I'm just pleased that it's up and ready to go, and I hope that it provides the support and firepower that is needed so much in the Middle East. It is probably the Phantom's true successor as a multi-role aircraft, and the Mosquito's before that. Good luck to all involved. I'm envious, very envious.

[PPRuNeUser0139]

In a single seat ac of Typhoon's undoubted complexity, the ability of its mission management system to fuse all the relevant data into a coherent, usable form was always going to be one of the tricky bits. If that particular nut has been cracked, then the boys have got their hands on a winner.
Well done.:D

[Archimedes]

And 25 years later here you go, the capability of a late 80's F18

Which variant of the late 80s F-18 could carry 6 x PGM, a designator pod (which also works), 4 x BVRAAM, 2 x SRAAM and a gun simultaneously? And still have enough fuel to leave the vicinity of the airfield? Must have missed that one..:hmm:

[TEEEJ]

A quick snap from today. Taken during the the press day at RAF Coningsby.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/a3352f85.jpg

Cheers

TJ

[nacluv]

Great pic, TEEEJ - thanks.

I was at CBY yesterday to look in on the RAF's only 4-engine heavy, and I was pleased to see a few of the 2-seater Typhoons up doing the rounds.

From TEEEJ's photo, does anyone know why the under-wing stores all seemingly have different attitudes? The inboard ones look roughly in line with the fuselage centre axis, but the further outboard you go, the more nose-down they look. I wouldn't have expected the wing to change shape much with in-flight loadings.

Just curious...

And not Typhoon-bashing either.

[JOE-FBS]

BBC website has "England's Big Picture" for today:


BBC News | Enlarged Image (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_enl_1214915198/html/1.stm)

[derbyshire]

Rejoice - now at last we are safe from Flankers!

[ftrplt]

Which variant of the late 80s F-18 could carry 6 x PGM, a designator pod (which also works), 4 x BVRAAM, 2 x SRAAM and a gun simultaneously? And still have enough fuel to leave the vicinity of the airfield? Must have missed that one..

and still needs a chute to stop.....:ugh:

[TEEEJ]

Cheers Nacluv,

A side view for comparison. I can only think that the pylons are set that way for aerodynamic reasons?

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/fe5e285f.jpg

TJ

[TEEEJ]

ftrplt wrote

and still needs a chute to stop

So do Flankers and Fulcrums, etc. Surely that is a safety option when carrying weight and it also saves the brakes?

TJ

[gareth herts]

According to the Beeb it's the "jet for the Nintendo generation..."

The pilot said that in the interview - not the Beeb's words!

[Gainesy]

That's his kids' Christmas presents sorted then.:)

[not_so_sis]

It's a fantastic asset and one that is much needed right now, so the sooner the final checks are over with and the 100 percent target destroyal (in range) that was proved at green flag, is going to be a confidence booster to the troops of which its going to be working hard with. It's also a nice (safer) pilot platform with its radar system and also its data links, allowing targets to be viewed on ground improving targeting techniques to maximise accuracy, coupled with faster transit times too and from target sites and the longer above target times now acheivable, it is vastly impressive in its unconventional form. Oh and there's also the fact that this will scare the living SH*t out of any one on the ground, beyond the abilites of that of its predocessors! The comment of its capabilities comparable to that of a late 80's f18 is simply ignorant, but lets face it, with the enthusiasm the pilots have for such a plane its going to do extremely well.
NOT_SO_SIS

[taxydual]

not so sis

Hope you are right.

I must admit, the Typhoon looks the business. At £67 million it needs to be. Time will tell. But whatever brickbats are thrown at the aircraft, to the guys and girls who will fly the aircraft into harms way, stay safe.

[PPRuNeUser0139]

Quote:
According to the Beeb it's the "jet for the Nintendo generation..."

The pilot said that in the interview - not the Beeb's words!

One of the few downsides of life down here is that we are inhibited from viewing vid news clips (and selected progs via iPlayer) on the BBC web site so unfortunately I haven't been able to watch this particular one.
And not ever having knowingly played/ridden/squeezed a Nintendo ("It's a popular electric entertainment machine, m'lud"), I'm not sure what the allusion means but I'll take it that it means it's the dogs swingy bits.
sv

[S'land]

sidevalve:

I also cannot use the iplayer from BBC as I am not in the UK. However, most videos can be played in RealPlayer.

[tonker]

Or a naval capabality or harpoon!

Wouldn't want that sort of thing on this ISLAND:ok:

[High_lander]

tonker
Or a naval capabality or harpoon!



Might I suggest you type in to Google AGM-84 + Typhoon?

[VinRouge]

I am guessing here, but I imagine it would take quite a few things with a modern databus...

As for range, Will they be tanking in the Desert?

[Stitchbitch]

Latest 'Flight International' says Typhoon to FI, Tonkas to replace GR.9 on Herrick? Must be true then...:E So, no sandy work for our newest toy?

[GasFitter]

Apparently, Sir Clive Loader is 'Commander-In-Chief of the Royal Air Force'! I think Sir Glenn may have something to say about that!

[MarkD]

Lewis Page's take (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/01/eurofighter_austere_air_to_ground_what_joy/).

Extract:(Incidentally, the RAF has plans to use only 140-odd Eurofighters. A large number of the Tranche I and II jets will likely be permanently mothballed - essentially thrown away - as happened in the late '80s with the Tornado F3. Cost to the taxpayer per Eurofighter actually used could beat £180m, more than an American F-22 Raptor stealth ultrafighter.)

[PPRuNeUser0139]

As good an example of Lewis Page's jaundiced, boss-eyed and irretrievably dark blue view of the world as you'll ever find.

Meanwhile, the commentator gets 10/10 for his sheer persistence here:

Aviation Video: Eurofighter Typhoon - United Kingdom - Air Force (http://www.flightlevel350.com/Aircraft_Eurofighter_Typhoon-Airline_United_Kingdom_-_Air_Force_Aviation_Video-9447.html)

[Archimedes]

It's a good job that Page was never given responsibility for running anything in the services, isn't it? I suppose you have to offer some gruding admiration - that people will pay to read such ill-informed, jaundiced and inaccurate drivel...

[D O Guerrero]

Interesting video of Typhoon there... but I was just wondering (and this isn't a criticism at all) - why is it such a conventional display? It's a very manoevrable aeroplane, so why is it that we never see any of the kind of funky stuff that the Russians seem to manage at airshows with their kit?
I'm NOT having a go! Simply curious..

[TEEEJ]

The RAF Typhoons that you see displaying are not the latest block aircraft. The display aircraft are F.2s and T.1s from 29 Sqn. Just a guess, but would that restrict their performance over later block aircraft, ie FGR.4 and T.3s?

TJ

[The Hook Hacker]

why has it got 25 year old NVGs and no fancy night capability? I saw the helmet mockup 5 years ago and it looked like there was going to be a camera / NVG box on either side, guess that was one techno step too far for this side of the pond to work out then?

[gashman]

Still being worked, I believe. I don't think there are any similar FJ helmets in operation at the moment. ISTR a problem with optical illusions at lower flying heights because the NVG sensors were spaced so far apart from each other on the side of the helmet. With HMCS tech, it is a massive plus to have integrated NVG capability, otherwise the magic green writing highlighting targets and off boresight missile cuing can't be used at night.

[Ivor Nydia]

If it's fully combat ready, why isn't it going? Surely all those thrusting Typhoon squadron commanders must be chomping at the bit to get more medals and promotions? Isn't a relatively air-threat-free environment like Afghanistan the perfect place to do some advanced air-ground operational testing? So if it's not going to Afghanistan, it can only be because it's not actually ready....

It's still not exactly prudent to start comparing it too favourably to the F-18, which has been dropping an awful lot of PGMs over the years (and in its Super Hornet guise does carry a butt-load of fuel, JDAMs, HARMs, JSOWs, integrated ECM, integrated targeting pod, datalink, gun, AESA radar, buddy refuel pods etc etc). The trouble with the Typhoon is that its procurement has been a total farce and it struggles to get out from under that cloud. If you, for example, look at the Typhoon's procurement that ran a mere 4-5 years late and cost something like 4 times the original budget, you do look a bit daft when you compare it to the Super Hornet program that was on time, on budget, under weight and dropping its first bomb in combat 10 years after it was ordered - 6 years ago.

UK folk are rightfully proud of the girl, but if you have been flying a Tornado for the last 20 years, you would be impressed by an airplane that can go above 30k, turn corners, has 3 colour screens and one day will be a great multirole platform. Now, when it's got an AESA radar and a full inventory of air-ground weapons (not just one bomb and a gun), can buddy tank and has been on ops (and can land on a ship?), it will be much easier to compare it to the F18 ;)

[dirty_bugger]

I for one a extremely glad that it has finaly been brought into service and can do the whole AA and attempt to do the AG stuff. Although lets face it, the best thing it is going to be good at is the air display and recruiting guys into the RAF. Lets hope the weak as Mech radar and lack of stealth dosn't let it down in the Ops that have been predicted for the future......

[Archimedes]

Ivor, the comparison was with the legacy Hornet, not the Super, which are very different aircraft.

I think I've made the point here before, but look at the required number of AD squadrons for the UK laid down by the government at a time when the need for QRA against loonies who'd hijacked an airliner or Russian bombers on long range strategic flights appeared almost non-existant. It was five. Less than that would put the UK at risk, apparently.

Look at the number of AD capable squadrons we have now, with an increased level of threat. It's four. And that includes the two Typhoon squadrons. It's not that the Typhoon isn't really ready, it's because our government is :mad:ing inept when it comes to defence and the aircraft is needed here because of its AA capability, which means that the GR4 fleet - which isn't quite what one wants for QRA - has to go instead.