Hoon to scrap Eurofighter

[Archimedes]

Er.. yes - but if you believe all the negative publicity about the Typhoon, it should've lost hopelessly to the F-15E. The point, surely, isn't about comparing it with the F-15E, rather saying 'see, it can do some of the things it's supposed to!'

People have been known to suggest that the Typhoon wouldn't be able to cut it against the Eagle (C or E model), so it's not as though its not worthy of a small note.

Jacko - GAU-8 or GAU-12? I know the F-35 is meant to replace the A-10 (or not...), but I'd have thought that the Avenger cannon was too big for the JSF ('specially if there are weight problems!)

[ORAC]

The CTOL version will carry an internal GAU-12, mounted above the engine inlet on the left side of the aircraft. The gun is not integrated on the CV/STOVL versions. They will, instead, carry a pod mounted GAU-12 on a dedicated centerline pylon between the weapons bays.

[Sadbloke]

F15Es are even occasionally waxed by F3s - flown by ex F111 drivers or those 'keener' on air-ground duties than BFM bandits. Still a fab bit of kit but a visual bounce from a Typhoon tooling back to Warton doesn't prove nufink - F15 had probably F3'd 2 mins previously - did the Typhoon have a sevicable DASS to warn him of incoming threat?

[MovinWings]

SadBloke,

Probably not. But as they say: 'Everything Comes to He who Waits' . However, this time..... It might not be worth it.

F15E might be a good 2nd , or what about the F18E....?? Great for what we need and we could sling it off our 'New' Carriers!

MW

[jwcook]

The Ministry of Defence moved swiftly to deny a national press report that Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was set to scrap the delayed and increasingly expensive war-plane.

An MoD spokeswoman said a deal for the first 55 of 232 planes was done but conceded that talks were continuing about the next 89, over "capability and affordability".

The MoD, however, remained "fully committed" to the Typhoon Eurofighter project and, with it, the phasing out of the ageing Jaguar, she added.

[3xGreens]

Don't know what's going on but someone somewhere must be doing something right as BWoS shares have been climbing nicely for the past couple of days !!

[Woff1965]

I read some specualtion that the USAF was thinking about replacing the GAU8 with the same 25mm cannon used in the Bradley IFV!

Don't know why they would go to the cost and aggro though.

Didn't there used to be a version of the GAU8 desinged as a gun pod that was lighter with lower rof and fewer barrels?

[Archimedes]

Yes, the whole assembly was first called the 'GEPOD'.

The 4-barrel version of the Avenger cannon was the GAU-13/A, while the pod was given the designation of GPU-5, with the unlikely name of PAVE CLAW. The assembly was used by F-16s in Desert Storm, but there were problems in integrating the pod with the F-16s fire control system (or something like that), and they were withdrawn.

I don't know if they have been used since, or if they were available to any other aircraft - but I bet ORAC does

[ORAC]

24 x F-16As were modified to carry the GPU-5 in the CAS role by the New York ANG. The pod was never considered satisfactory, since it tended to become misaligned on its pylon from recoil, ruining accuracy. The F16s were used during the Gulf War but did not use the cannon in combat. The aircraft were phased out after the war.

The GPU-5 was also fitted to the F-5E (up to 3 pods) and the F-4 (4 pods).

[Archimedes]

See. Told you so!

[whowhenwhy]

Anyone heard the one about the new all singing all dancing figter aircraft that doesn't know what height it's at?