As Archimedes said the cost of not having the gun and supporting it was less than the cost of developing a dummy (which still required maintenance through life with tech pubs for remove/install fix when dropped damaged etc), especially considering that the gun was allready installed and paid for, as was the spares/support/tech pubs (as was stated though, no ammo).

Typhoon Ground Support
 

http://connectus.intranet.baesystems...lly_loaded.jpgLooks to carry quite a usful load for ground suport role:ok:

S

Sigh, thank heavens for that.

As an aside, with hindsight, do forum members now think the Tornado GR1 was "overgunned?.

MoJo

Added to that has the Tornado actually used its guns during any of the current conflicts that it is used in and if so was it of any use.

Added:
One of most striking features of the Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000) is its internal cannon. It is equipped with a single Mauser GmbH developed BK-27 cannon mounted internally in the fuselage forward of the starboard wing. It utilizes 27mm high explosive shells with a maximum firing rate of some 1700 rounds a minute; each aircraft will likely carry approximately 150 rounds.

The weapon apparently looks weaker than the 20mm M-61 cannon with a rate of 6000 rounds a minute. But in a fast dogfight, the Mauser will pour 4 kg of ammo in 0.5 seconds while M-62 would have poured only 2 kg. By the time M-61 reaches full firing rate, the target may be moved considerably. This is particularly if the pilot wishes to take snap-shots.

Due to cannon's ability to engage moving targets swiftly and with accuracy, the system was fitted with an automatic firing mode. When the radar solution shows that the target is passing through the line-of-fire of the cannon, it will fire a burst of 27mm and this can be quite helpful in maneuvering fights.

The primary BVR weapon of the Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000) will be the MBDA Meteor rocket-ramjet powered BVRAAM with range well over 100 kms. The missile will be guided using a mix of mid-course correction using data-link, inertial guidance and active radar in terminal stage.

The primary close-combat weapon of the Typhoon will be the AIM-132 ASRAAM 4th generation AAM. The missile has the capability to engage targets that are high off-boresight. When used with the HMS, it forms a formidable weapon system.

Other air-air weapons include AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Skyflash, Aspide and IRIS-T.

In air-ground mode, the Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000) employs the most modern line of precision guided bombs and standoff missiles. Its arsenal includes Storm Shadow and Taurus standoff missiles, Harpoon and Penguin AShMs, ALARM and HARM ARMs, Brimstone anti-vehicle missile, JDAM and LGBs, BL-755 and DWS-39.

Exrigger,

Where did you find that out of interest? Some 'interesting' ideas about stores (BL755!!!) - I suspect it is a late 80's article (sounds like it's been translated too).

Ray :-)

In respect of the Typhoon's canon, I'm heartened to see that the RAF are still fixated with projecting airpower through dog-fighting and not with using it for close air support for the PBI on the ground to whom, when in CLOSE contact with the enemy, a large LGB is sadly not the most effective option.

150 rounds, thats not going to do much in the sandbox, whatever happened to the old F4 SUE pods :E

Hi RG, I was going to take bits from various sites but if I remember rightly it came from:

http://www.defencetalk.com/world_mil...n_20050120.php

another site:

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ef2000/

and the latest news is:

http://www.thebusinessonline.com/prS...id=3346160en-1

I did not actually check the dates of the articles but as they still mention EF2000 you are correct in thinking that it is old projections.

CM - AIUI (from chaps who ought to know...), the reason the Typhoon's gun is to be supported is for CAS, and nothing to do with its utility in air-to-air work.

And

The senior religious figure capability was deleted from the staff requirement a while ago...

Archimedes
Thank you. Reassuring.....but 150 rounds?

That's no less than other 27mm cannon wielding aircraft in our inventory!

...and the same amount as carried by Fulcrums and Flankers for their 30 mm Gsh-301 cannons.

What I want to know is, how long is the average gun fired at one time (burst) in air combat? Are there different yardsticks for A2A and strafing?

Stand-up/stand-down
 

;)
S H

These are not new terms. I guess that the terminology fell out of vogue for a few years and has now come back.








'We knew how to whinge but we kept it in the NAAFI bar.'

Hi from Sin City
 

Just wanted to say that we are having a great time in Vegas, also to correct one or two of you, the Typhoon has always had a gun fitted from production and is fully servicable (just need some bullets)

Enjoy

The MiG 27 has been known to score a one shot kill with its integrated radar/laser rangefinder....:eek:

Gone are the days of hosing away with 4 x 30mm Adens or even a 20mm SUU - with good weapon design a half second burst should easily do the trick - in an A/A environment.

Not so good for PBI support though, regrettably.

The ammunition would be enough for about 3-4 passes. As the second and subsequent passes would expose the aircraft to greater SAM and AAA threat you could argue that 170 rounds is enough.

Why not just nape 'em on the first pass, then strafe any survivors on the second?

When did napalm fall out of vogue?

Excellent non-persistant area anti-personnel weapon. (Bit like Binnsworth really).

If you don't want to get frazzled, stay home and tend your goats.

Gainsy,

As far as I am aware Napalm fell out of favour after the WW2. Instead we prefered to use liquified petroleum jelly; far more friendly and less emotive.

Is it actually illegal these days? IIRC the Argie Pucaras dropped it in 1982.
Call it Area Target Marker if you want to keep the huggyfluffs happy.