All EurofightersÂ’ radar to be upgraded to AESA
-
If the news comes earlier in time, today we may welcome Eurofighter “Typhoon” instead of F-15SG.
Eurofighter Typhoon Flies E-Scan Antenna
http://www.pressemeldinger.no/read.asp?recno=37531
Eurofighter Typhoon has demonstrated its potential for introduction of new capabilities with the first flight of a Eurofighter aircraft carrying an lectronically scanning radar antenna, using Development Aircraft Five (DA5) on 8 May flying from EADS Military Air Systems' Manching facility, Germany.
HALLBERGMOOS, Germany, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Eurofighter Typhoon has demonstrated its potential for introduction of new capabilities with the first flight of a Eurofighter aircraft carrying an electronically scanning radar antenna, using Development Aircraft Five (DA5) on 8 May flying from EADS Military Air Systems' Manching facility, Germany.
DA5 has recently been retired from the main Eurofighter Development programme, its primary work completed and future development activities now being focused on Instrumented Production Aircraft. During its earlier programmes DA5 had been the principle test aircraft for the CAPTOR radar currently in service in Typhoon, and was therefore ideally suited to trial the new antenna. The Euroradar consortium of EADS Defence Electronics (Germany), SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems (United Kingdom), Galileo Avionica (Italy) and INDRA (Spain) had previously tested the antenna in ground rigs and flown it in a BAC 1-11 trials aircraft. This was the first opportunity which had arisen to allow the radar to be trialed in flight fitted into a Typhoon aircraft.
Eurofighter GmbH and the NATO Eurofighter Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) had agreed to use DA5 for this series of antenna test flights, using funding provided by the German Procurement Agency BWB through NETMA. Eurofighter GmbH managed the international clearance process and together with EADS Military Air Systems, resolved life extension issues on certain components in DA5. Support throughout the duration of the trials is being provided by EADS and Eurojet as well as Eurofighter GmbH and its partner companies.
The new antenna emphasises and demonstrates the policy of continuous capability enhancement in the Eurofighter programme, and production embodiment of this feature could be available for Tranche 3 or as a retrofit in Tranche 2 aircraft. While maintaining the excellent performance features of the CAPTOR radar, the new antenna provides a significant reduction in operating costs as well as certain performance enhancements, and can be readily fitted as a replacement for the current antenna with no significant aircraft modification.
The accumulated data from the trials programme of three flights will be assessed and evaluated on ground rigs of the Euroradar consortium, and will be an input to customer considerations on the future development and operation of their Eurofighter Typhoon fleets.
To date 119 Eurofighter Typhoon have been delivered. The nations' fleets have accumulated 18,870 flight hours by end April 2007, the industry test fleet is close to the 5,100 hours mark.
High Resolution images of the Eurofighter Typhoon can be downloaded from our web site. Hard Copy images are available on request.
www.eurofighter.com/medialibrary -
I had the impression we actually wanted the typhoon. But we wanted tranche3 -then- when only tranche 1 was available.
This is good news. Maybe we grab these to replace the F-5s
JSF to replace the F-16s.
-
If my memory serves well, I think then the Typhoon was the front runner for A-4 replacement but surprisingly being kicked because Europeans didnÂ’t promise anything on AESA then.
Correct me if I am wrong.
-
that mother were a superb AC even without the AESA... super cruise somemore... what the heck they were thinkin anyway?
-
I think that was the official line. However, the Europeans are notoriously fickle minded about a lot of things, and I think among them, was price. The procurement of the Eurofighter wavered back and forth and now is much less than what it originally intended to be initially.Originally posted by coolant:If my memory serves well, I think then the Typhoon was the front runner for A-4 replacement but surprisingly being kicked because Europeans didnÂ’t promise anything on AESA then.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Then finally of course, the AESA was not confirmed. I believe they would do it only if enough said yes or something. Pretty much the problem with multi-national projects. Europe is littered with canceled and half baked projects like these. The A400M is a very good example or a ridiculously unreliable project that I think has been delayed countless times.
I don't think the Govt wanted to deal with potential problems like these. In any case, I believe part of the package of the F-15SGs was access to precision ammunitions I think. Correct me if I am wrong. In any case, these precision ammunitions represent a quantum leap for our airforce capability; something we haven't had much before beyond some of the Israeli ammunitions. -
AFAIK, AESA was a very important benchmark when RSAF selected its next Generation fighter. At very beginning of the 3 horse racing, the Typhoon performed best even everybody started to think the typhoon is the deal. However, things begun to change when Europeans ask SG to be the “ partner “ of the Typhoon AESA upgrading project. The government swiftly read this message as it’s just a smart way that Europeans ask SG to shoulder the cost of a “ multi-lateral “ AESA project that may or may not yield any results in a reasonable time frame.
Usually, such European ’s very own “multi-lateral” military development project is time lagging and money cost, the Eurofighter itself is a good example. French faded out such multi-lateral project and developed its own Rafale. Likewise, Brits faded out of European multi-lateral “DDG” plan and developed its own “type 45” DDG.
But itÂ’s surprising to know TyphoonÂ’s AESA coming out so fast. -
I have e same thought as CM06
-
umm... i dont think SG have enuff airspace for u to supercruise ard...Originally posted by tankfanatic:that mother were a superb AC even without the AESA... super cruise somemore... what the heck they were thinkin anyway? -
would be a good capability to have.Originally posted by ktk:umm... i dont think SG have enuff airspace for u to supercruise ard... -
man...my all time fave fighter......now then got AESAOriginally posted by coolant:If the news comes earlier in time, today we may welcome Eurofighter “Typhoon” instead of F-15SG.
-
It is no secret that we fly and train out of our airspace esp over South China Sea. That should be big enuf. Furthermore, it is always an advantage to have the capability when you need it.Originally posted by ktk:umm... i dont think SG have enuff airspace for u to supercruise ard... -
The Eurofighter needs to mature before we might consider getting further tranches.
It's not out of the running in the future I'm sure. What the RSAF has gone for, is a bomb truck to replace the A-4, which is also a bomb truck. -
If the F-35 proves too expensive or unavailable, we might have to turn to the Rafale or Eurofighter. As it is, I am not too optimistic about the F-35 which potentially might turn into a financial upward spiral if the fellows in Congress are getting too much cold feet over the costs. Not least that even the British are non-plussed about American reluctance to share the codes for the aircraft and Singapore in general wants to have those codes too.Originally posted by LazerLordz:The Eurofighter needs to mature before we might consider getting further tranches.
It's not out of the running in the future I'm sure. What the RSAF has gone for, is a bomb truck to replace the A-4, which is also a bomb truck. -
If Yanks are not going to share necessary codes, then itÂ’s a bad news for proper maintenance of an extremely sophisticate F-35. Which means the future RSAF F-35s have to fly back to America for routine maintenance like software upgrading ( Hey, stealth fighters do need regular software upgrading in order to keep stealthy). Re-paint the RAM coating etc, etc. Of course all the costs have to be born by end user
-
Dont worry, the mexicans will get them and so the rest of us will too.
I'm hoping the Typhoon will take over the air-superiority role (replacing the F-5s) especially for CAP and escorts. Our F-16s are much more useful in Wild-Weasel and CAS roles.
From what i read, the F-35 will outperform planes like the F-16/18, both in range, payload and anti-air suppression. The F-15 payload vs F-35 was quite hard to compare apparently.
After the most recent F-5 crash in taiwan....maybe our RSAF will look into Typhoons. Not to mention, that will bring about another series of closer ties with the EU. We must also consider the fact Typhoon is still needing a quite of polishing before it can shine.
Any one have ideas if our current bombs, AAMs and other armanents are compatible with the Typhoon? This is a rather important thing to note as well. -
Probably compatible with some jury-rigging and modifications. THere is a spread of warheads available from EADS's missile branch which are interesting to say the least. The Typhoon however, hasn't exactly reached operational deployment I think. Still testing stage.Originally posted by CM06:Dont worry, the mexicans will get them and so the rest of us will too.
I'm hoping the Typhoon will take over the air-superiority role (replacing the F-5s) especially for CAP and escorts. Our F-16s are much more useful in Wild-Weasel and CAS roles.
From what i read, the F-35 will outperform planes like the F-16/18, both in range, payload and anti-air suppression. The F-15 payload vs F-35 was quite hard to compare apparently.
After the most recent F-5 crash in taiwan....maybe our RSAF will look into Typhoons. Not to mention, that will bring about another series of closer ties with the EU. We must also consider the fact Typhoon is still needing a quite of polishing before it can shine.
Any one have ideas if our current bombs, AAMs and other armanents are compatible with the Typhoon? This is a rather important thing to note as well.
The F-35 might have a smaller payload because of its internal bomb bay unlike the F-15 which carries everything outside. Of course, one could do external load on the F-35 but that kills the stealth. -
F35 is never designed for dog fighting, theoretically, it can launch AIM-9X from externally pylon but heard the tail flame from such launch will burn the wing structure of F-35. So till now, neither the AIM-9X can be fired from F-35 internal bay, nor externally. F-22 using a complicate mechanism to fire AIM-9X, even though, F-22 can never fire AIM-9X to all the offbore sight angels provided by AIM-9X high offbore sight attacking ability,
Basically, F-35 has to settle the air combat in BVR by using its AIM-120s. In close in combat, it doesnÂ’t stand a chance to win over Euro-canards.
However, F-35 does feature some breath-taking avionics. If the next procurer is also fascinated by electronics more than other thing, I think he will probably pick F-35 instead of Typhoon again. Because in electronic terms, F-35 is way ahead of anything Europeans can come out.
-
Why sg is not buying euro?
-
1) Funds are limited
2) Recent procurement of F-15s will already suck away most of the new stock of pilots.
3) We phased out a bomb truck.(A-4) So we buy a bigger bomb truck.
Coolant's right about Euro fighter being in testing stage.
The Typhoon even now is like an infant...still need some time to grow and develop character.
They had problems testing a new missile on a new plane (Meteor on Typhoon) So they switched it to the Gripen instead. Not sure if this is reverted back yet.
Until they can define the roles of the Typhoon, it's still a wait and see for most buyers. AFAIK, there's no variants to the Typhoon for AA/AS/WW roles yet. Give them a year more or two when they firm up everything, we can consider phasing out our F-5s. -
why not do this, threaten US if they don't sell F-22 to singapore, then singapore will buy euro fighter instead. lol
-
frankly do not expect too much of the F-35 ! basically read articles on it that the performance is only comparaible to F-16 & F-18 the only thing it it is more stealth and better electronic that all.
-
it will be great if SG can get some eurofighters
but given it's multination problems...really is quite a risk to buy it -
The F-35 also boast lower operating costs...Originally posted by storywolf:frankly do not expect too much of the F-35 ! basically read articles on it that the performance is only comparaible to F-16 & F-18 the only thing it it is more stealth and better electronic that all. -
How about F22 ?
-
Too expensive...Originally posted by soulwinner:How about F22 ?