2nd Eurofighter Tyhoon Customer Confirm
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Transformer is F-22 ahOriginally posted by audiovideo:typhoon will be good .... was disappointed when mindef chose F15
For F35... should we get the STVOL? looks stylo and if it as capable as the one shown in movie Transformer
Die Hard then is F-35
i wld rather have both CTOL n STOVL...interoperability...... -
ha...ya. die hard.. paiseh
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Actually I dun think RSAF will specifically buy something to replace the F-5.
The F-5 were acquired in those days as an "affordable" solution to something supersonic they needed to replace Hawker hunters.
Dun think they'll get Gripen or something just to replace the F-5...looks like they will get a two-engine type to replace all the F-16C and F-5, while all the F-16 and F-15s form the strike role.
Just a guess...dun quote me. -
DATE:05/11/07
SOURCE:Flight International
Typhoon deal brings boost for Saudi firms
By Craig Hoyle
Saudi Arabian companies will have a strong presence at this yearÂ’s Dubai air show, reflecting the nationÂ’s high spending power among the six Gulf Cooperation Council states, and its multi-billion dollar air force procurement and modernisation efforts.
Supported by Western aerospace manufacturers including BAE Systems, Boeing, General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, RiyadhÂ’s fledgling defence industry has over the past two decades developed to a point where it will soon advance from providing maintenance and support services on multiple aircraft types to performing final assembly work on 48 of the Royal Saudi Air ForceÂ’s future 72 Eurofighter Typhoons.
Signed with the UK government in late September, Saudi Arabia’s initially £4.4 billion ($9 billion) deal will start with the delivery of 24 Eurofighters already on order for the Royal Air Force under the programme’s Tranche 2 production deal with Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. The aircraft will replace 24 Panavia Tornado air defence fighters, and some Northrop F-5s.
Final details of the government-to-government deal – such as where the Saudi-completed aircraft will be produced – have yet to be confirmed, although progress was expected during the state visit to the UK of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud from 30 October until 1 November. But with the massive deal secured, the four-nation Eurofighter consortium has opted against having a formal presence at the Dubai show, with BAE to instead promote the Typhoon using a full-scale model.
Local Typhoon completions will further extend a process referred to by BAE as “Saudi-isation”. This has already seen the nation’s industry – including Dubai exhibitors Advanced Electronics and Alsalam Aircraft – gain experience in performing the first phase of a wide-ranging Capability Sustainment Programme upgrade to the RSAF’s Tornado interdictor strike aircraft.
Eight of the modified aircraft, which will eventually feature improved cockpit avionics, navigation systems, targeting equipment and new precision-guided weapons, visited the UK from August for exercise “Saudi Green Flag” alongside the RAF’s Tornado GR4-equipped 617 Sqn.
The introduction of similar skills across Saudi industry has also come through BoeingÂ’s 50% holding in Alsalam, which has led to the company securing major contracts to provide technical support and depot maintenance work on the air forceÂ’s Tornados, Boeing F-15 fighters and KE-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. The company also holds contracts on the RSAFÂ’s Lockheed Martin C-130 transports, Gulfstream and Bombardier Learjet-series business jets and helicopters including the Agusta-Bell 212/412, Boeing AH-64A Apache and Sikorsky UH-60.
Another major Saudi modernisation effort under way will see its air forceÂ’s 70 F-15S fighters undergo a propulsion system upgrade, with their P&W
F100-229 engines – the source of a long-term “sustainment problem” – to be replaced by GE F110-129Cs. GE has a contract worth more than $300 million to produce the first 65 of an expected 155 engines for the F-15S fleet.
Other Saudi exhibitors will include the national and regional arms of UK defence contractor BAE Systems, business aviation company Jet Aviation, fractional operator NetJets, and VIP air transport provider National Air Services.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/05/219183/typhoon-deal-brings-boost-for-saudi-firms.html -
at the same time, Tranche 2 Avonics Programme testing just started
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DATE:06/11/07
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
Eurofighter begins Typhoon Tranche 2 avionics flight tests
By Graham Warwick
Eurofighter has begun flight testing the more-capable avionics for Tranche 2 Typhoon multi-role fighters, deliveries of which will begin in summer 2008.
The sixth instrumented production aircraft, IPA6, completed its 54min first flight with the Tranche 2 avionics from BAE Systems' Warton, UK facility on 1 November.
Tranche 2 improvements include new mission computers with increased processing power and memory capacity, allowing the integration of weapons including the MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile and MBDA Storm Shadow and Taurus Systems Taurus stand-off missiles.
IPA6 is a Tranche 1-standard aircraft that has been fitted with the Tranche 2 mission computer and avionics features. IPA7 is the first aircraft representing the full Tranche 2 build standard and is expected to fly at EADS's Manching, Germany site before the end of 2007.
Flight testing of the Tranche 2-standard Eurojet EJ200 engine began in Italy in September, using aircraft IPA2 operated by Eurofighter partner Alenia.
IPA6 will be used for flight testing at BAE Warton, aiming for type acceptance of the first Tranche 2 capability standard, called Block 8, in April 2008.
The Eurofighter consortium is under contract to deliver 251 second-tranche Typhoons: 91 to the UK, 79 to Germany, 47 to Italy and 34 to Spain. Deliveries will continue to 2013.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/06/219202/eurofighter-begins-typhoon-tranche-2-avionics-flight.html -
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219327/dubai-2007-typhoons-missing-link.html
DATE:11/11/07
SOURCE:Flight Daily News
Dubai 2007: Typhoon's missing link...
BAE, not Eurofighter, promotes Typhoon at Dubai
With Eurofighter GmbHÂ’s attentions firmly focused on a number of vital export campaigns, the four-nation organisation responsible for the Eurofighter Typhoon programme is not exhibiting at Dubai.
Instead, Typhoon is being presented by one of the Eurofighter partner companies, BAE Systems, which is showing off the TyphoonÂ’s cockpit simulator at the show. Test pilots are on hand to demonstrate and explain the aircraftÂ’s intuitive Man-Machine Interface, which many believe is the TyphoonÂ’s key advantage over many of its competitors.
Eurofighter GmbHÂ’s absence looks surprising, especially after Saudi Arabia finally signed a $8.86 billion contract for the purchase of 72 Eurofighter Typhoons on September 11. But this deal was a direct government-to-government arrangement between the UK and Saudi Arabia, and not between the manufacturer and the customer.
The Typhoon procurement was originally outlined in the December 2005 al-Salam agreement between the two governments.
This ‘Understanding Document’ confirmed Saudi Arabia’s intention to procure Typhoon aircraft to replace some RSAF Tornados and other frontline aircraft. No details were released at the time, though press reports suggested the deal would be 72 Typhoons, and that al-Salam would follow the long-running al-Yamamah programme. This was signed in 1984 and covered the supply of Hawks and Tornados, generating more than £43bn of revenue for BAE Systems.
The initial contract will be followed by further deals covering the supply of weapons, support, training and engineering services, and some have estimated that these will eventually total $40bn over the lifetime of the aircraft.
The first 24 Saudi Typhoons will be built by BAE Systems at Warton, north-west England, with the remaining 48 aircraft probably being assembled locally in Saudi Arabia, though details remain to be finalised. It was initially thought that the Saudi aircraft would take 12 RAF line positions, not 24 as widely reported, at the beginning of Tranche 2, and another 12 extra line positions will be added later in Tranche 2.
This initial batch of 24 Saudi aircraft will include six two-seaters. It was widely expected that the first 12 Saudi aircraft would be interspersed with RAF aircraft on the Warton line, but recent reports suggest that these Saudi aircraft will now be delivered as a ‘block’, leading to a delay in RAF deliveries, though extra RAF aircraft will be added at the end of Tranche 2, so there will be no change to RAF numbers. As a result, the RAF’s third frontline Typhoon unit, No.6 Squadron, is not expected to stand up until 2010.
The first 22 Saudi Typhoon pilots and an initial cadre of engineers will be trained alongside their Royal Air Force counterparts at RAF Coningsby on the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit, No.29 (Reserve) Squadron. The remaining 48 aircraft (including eight two-seaters) will come from Tranche 3, or will be locally assembled at a “new facility in Saudi Arabia”.
These 72 Typhoons will replace the RSAFÂ’s Tornado ADV fighters, and some Northrop F-5s and Boeing F-15Cs, and there may even be an eventual requirement for up to 200 aircraft.
BAE is a long-standing supplier of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia, starting with Hawker Hunters and then BAC Strikemasters and Lightnings, and later BAE Hawks and Panavia Tornados. The company has a stated strategy of continuing “to develop Saudi Arabia as a key home market.” The Typhoon sale also reflects increasing co-operation between the UK and Saudi Ministries of Defence, which has included two recent bilateral exercises involving the RAF and RSAF Tornado forces.
With the Saudi contract signed, a number of other export campaigns are being actively pursued. In the period immediately before the Dubai show, Eurofighter GmbH completed a pre-bid RFP clarification process in India. “This was the most professionally put together and most comprehensive RFP I’d ever seen, but we are happy with the detail, and happy that we understand what they want, and we are putting together a compliant bid,”according to one senior Eurofighter source.
“Operationally, Typhoon is exactly what the Indian Air Force needs, and I am confident that it will meet their technology transfer and industrial aspirations. The Indians themselves are stressing costs of ownership, so I think that our combination of capability and low lifecycle costs over 40 years will be compelling.”
Eurofighter GmbH is also actively participating in the JASDFÂ’s F-X F-4 replacement programme in Japan, where an RFP is said to be imminent.
Typhoon was actually selected as GreeceÂ’s new generation fighter in March 2000, and the Greek Government announced its commitment to an order for 60 Typhoons later that year. Contract signature was then delayed due to the cost of the 2004 Olympic Games, however, and the fighter competition was re-opened by a new incoming Government. Eurofighter GmbH has continued to try to find alternative funding arrangements and to resolve budget issues, and Greece has been offered substantial industrial participation in the Eurofighter progamme.
Switzerland is also viewed as an interesting prospect for the Typhoon, especially after AustriaÂ’s selection of the type.
A number of European JSF partner nations are also being courted as potential Typhoon customers. Though Norway is a ‘Level Two’ JSF partner, the country has been a member of the Eurofighter industrial partnership since January 2003, when it made an initial €10.8m investment to participate in high technology development work, later increasing its industrial participation to €23m in June 2005.
A number of other nations have expressed serious reservations about industrial participation in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme, or about timescales, and are now viewed as Typhoon prospects. These nations include Denmark, the Netherlands and Turkey.
There have even been suggestions that there may still be the possibility of ‘follow-on’ requirements in Singapore and South Korea, where the Typhoon lost out to the Boeing F-15 Eagle in earlier fighter competitions. -
There have even been suggestions that there may still be the possibility of ‘follow-on’ requirements in Singapore and South Korea, where the Typhoon lost out to the Boeing F-15 Eagle in earlier fighter competitions.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219327/dubai-2007-typhoons-missing-link.html
Likely for Singapore to have a combination of Typhoons and Strike Eagles?
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Below is from Aviation Week & Space Technology October 29th.Originally posted by tankee1981:http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219327/dubai-2007-typhoons-missing-link.html
Likely for Singapore to have a combination of Typhoons and Strike Eagles?
Saab, EADS Offer Stealth Designs For South Korea's KFX
Aviation Week & Space Technology
10/29/2007, page 38
Saab, EADS actively push low-observable designs for KFX project as U.S. rivals lie low
South Korea's stealth fighter ambitions are beginning to flush out European industry's aspirations for manned combat aircraft developments beyond those in production.
U.S. manufacturers' low profile in the tentative KFX competition is raising the prospect that they could lose South Korea as well as Japan as captive fighter markets.
Saab and EADS, by contrast, are laboring to address the requirement to support domestic development of a next-generation fighter.
Saab is offering at least two options descended from the Gripen. Each uses the Gripen canard-delta platform and has internal weapon stowage to reduce the radar cross-section. The P305 design is a single-engine aircraft. The P306 has two engines.
Sweden, which says it has more Gripens than it needs, may offer to lease some so South Korea can retire aging fighters earlier. Saab declined to discuss its South Korean strategy.
EADS seems to have considered a new design, a Eurofighter Typhoon derivative or a baseline Typhoon. It is believed to be focusing on the middle option, using the Typhoon airframe as the basis for further collaborative development to meet the KFX requirement.
Lockheed Martin and Boeing are not presently engaged as much as the Europeans, says a project industry official. Technology access and transfer are more challenging issues for the U.S. companies than for their European counterparts.
In almost all military development projects, technology transfer is high priority for Seoul (see p. 37). Constrained by their government, the U.S. competitors probably hope South Korea eventually overlooks the requirement for local or co-developed low-observable technology, preferring an off-the-shelf purchase.
[snip]
Cheers,
Sunho -
From Aviation Week & Space Technology, June 19th 2000.
SON OF EUROFIGHTER
I suspect this 2000 study is the basis of the "middle option" mentioned in the October 29th 2007 article.
Studies are underway on block changes and future derivatives of the Eurofighter, including a stealthier version with an internal weapons bay. This would meet the U.K.'s requirement for a Future Offensive Air System to replace Tornados used for deep strike missions. The under-fuselage weapons bay would take the place of a center fuel tank. Conformal fuel tanks would be added to the upper fuselage to compensate. A "wet," or fuel-carrying, vertical stabilizer also is being considered to provide additional fuel volume. Other block changes being studied for Eurofighter include incorporation of an electronically scanned array radar, or an integrated sensor system with a single aperture.
Cheers,
Sunho -
Regarding the “ middle option”, no matter how good is the EJ200 powerplant, it still is not the big thrust turbofan engine like Yanks’ F119/F135 or Russian’s F117 series currently under development. 2 EJ200 powered current Typhoon’s super cruise & super maneuverability are no match of F-22. if Europeans really go for the internal bay & applying thick RAM coating, it will dramatically increase the “middle option” EF2000’s die weight, which in turn will further lower the EF2000’s T/W ratio thus jeopardize its super cruise & super maneuverability. If such valuable qualities of a air superior Fighter are degraded, then “middle option” EF2000 will be more a striker than a fighter, but I’m wondering what compact ammunitions can be carried by the future stealthier EF2000 in its space constraint internal bay.
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Whatever proposal is selected, South Korea wants to use American engines such as General Electric F414.Originally posted by coolant:Regarding the “ middle option”, no matter how good is the EJ200 powerplant, it still is not the big thrust turbofan engine like Yanks’ F119/F135 or Russian’s F117 series currently under development. 2 EJ200 powered current Typhoon’s super cruise & super maneuverability are no match of F-22. if Europeans really go for the internal bay & applying thick RAM coating, it will dramatically increase the “middle option” EF2000’s die weight, which in turn will further lower the EF2000’s T/W ratio thus jeopardize its super cruise & super maneuverability. If such valuable qualities of a air superior Fighter are degraded, then “middle option” EF2000 will be more a striker than a fighter, but I’m wondering what compact ammunitions can be carried by the future stealthier EF2000 in its space constraint internal bay.
Wikidepia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_F414#Upgrades claims:
"The second growth step would provide 15 percent more thrust than the initial F414 - about 25,000 pounds force (110 kN) of thrust. This engine would use the improved Step A core with a larger fan and low-pressure turbine. It would still fit within the existing F/A-18E/F engine installation, however. The final growth step - Step C - would produce an engine with 30 percent more thrust than the F414 - just under 29,000 pounds force (130 kN). This thrust level is nearly equal to the F110 Increased Performance Engine. To reach this impressive thrust level will demand further airflow growth from the fan, a modest temperature increase, a new two-stage low pressure turbine and a new afterburner."
Of course, the EJ200 can be further developed if only money and time is available.
Cheers,
Sunho -
The EJ200Â’s core engine decides its potential of thrust increase is limited, when Europeans developed it with the mind only regarding it as a middle thrust engine.
If Europeans really want to go for future 5th G stealth manned fighter like F-22, they still have to gather different nationÂ’s strength again to jointly develop a big thrus/high TW ratio Turbofan engine. -
Highly unlikely, with the Euro currency on the roll and USD on the decline.....Typhoons being in Euro currency won't see the light of day here. Why need to pay for ONE very expensive Typhoon [Euro currency] when you can probably get something like 1.5-2.0 F15SG paid for in low USD?Originally posted by tankee1981:http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219327/dubai-2007-typhoons-missing-link.html
Likely for Singapore to have a combination of Typhoons and Strike Eagles?
With the added features on F15SG, there's value for money!
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For my povOriginally posted by tankee1981:http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219327/dubai-2007-typhoons-missing-link.html
Likely for Singapore to have a combination of Typhoons and Strike Eagles? 
All have to depends on the development on F-35 since Israel can only get their F-35 on 2014 instead of 2012
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http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219261/no-f-35s-for-israel-before-2014.html
DATE:11/11/07
SOURCE:Flight International
No F-35s for Israel before 2014
By Graham Warwick
Reports that Israel could receive Lockheed Martin F-35s as early as 2012 have been dismissed by the Joint Strike Fighter programme office (JPO), which says the earliest that deliveries to the nation could begin is in 2014.
The JPO says it is planning to negotiate a security agreement with Israel "in the near future". This will establish an agreed framework for providing the nation with additional information on the F-35.
"Israel may decide to purchase the JSF via the US government's foreign military sales [FMS] programme," says the JPO. Assuming US Congressional approval, "Israel may be able to achieve JSF aircraft deliveries as early as 2014", it says.
A source says JSF programme partners the UK and Italy have "moved aircraft to the right", making F-35s available for early delivery to FMS customers. Israel is expected to be the first FMS buyer for the F-35, with a requirement for 100 aircraft. -
SG Likely to get the multi role Rafale?
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DATE:15/11/07
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
Alsalam Aircraft confident of securing Typhoon assembly role
By Craig Hoyle
Riyadh-based Alsalam Aircraft expects to strengthen its relationship with the UK's BAE Systems in the near future, with deals pending to extend an upgrade to the Royal Saudi Air Force's Panavia Tornado interdictor strike aircraft, and potentially to also conduct the final assembly of 48 of the service's 72 Eurofighter Typhoons.
"BAE is a very major customer on the Tornado, and now we are looking forward to the Typhoon," says Alsalam chief executive Mohammed Fallatah, adding: "We are talking to BAE about manufacturing capability in Saudi Arabia."
This could include either the final or full assembly of RSAF Typhoons, he says, adding that a decision has yet to taken on where the new completion facility will be built.
Ian Malin, BAE's head of Typhoon exports, confirms that Alsalam is "under consideration" for the key role of completing the Eurofighter, and says the UK is also looking at a range of other programme details before assembly particulars will be finalised.
The Saudi Arabian and UK governments signed an initial £4.4 billion ($9.1 billion) contract for the 72-aircraft deal during October.
If confirmed, the Typhoon assembly and related through-life support work will enable Alsalam to grow from its current total of 2,800 employees, says Fallatah, who also expects the company to receive a contract in the near future to perform the second phase of the RSAF's Tornado Capability Sustainment Programme.
This is believed to incorporate the integration of weapons such as MBDA's Brimstone anti-armour weapon and a version of its Storm Shadow cruise missile, and Raytheon's Enhanced Paveway and Paveway IV precision-guided bombs with the service's Tornado ground-attack fleet, plus new targeting pods and other equipment.
Alsalam also recently received a subcontract from Boeing to perform a Link 16 datalink upgrade to the RSAF's Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control system aircraft, and is working to "enhance the capabilities" of its KE-3A tanker-transports, says Fallatah.
The company, which is 60% owned by the Saudi-based Boeing Industrial Technology Group, will also perform depot-level maintenance on the air force's Lockheed Martin C-130 transports from next March, he adds.
Alsalam Aircraft used the show to announce an expansion to its heavy maintenance business for the commercial aviation sector, having received a new contract to support four Boeing 737-200s operated by Pakistan-based Shaheen Air International.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/15/219550/alsalam-aircraft-confident-of-securing-typhoon-assembly.html -
DATE:06/12/07
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
Saudi Arabia's Eurofighter Typhoon deal gets final confirmation
By Craig Hoyle
Saudi Arabia’s at least £4.4 billion ($9 billion) deal for 72 Eurofighter Typhoons has formally advanced into its production phase, with the four-nation Eurofighter organisation having signed documents on the project with prime contractor BAE Systems.
BAE recently received its own contract from the UK government, which is responsible for the bilateral agreement to sell the Typhoon to Riyadh, including 24 aircraft to be diverted from their intended delivery to the Royal Air Force. The UK service will receive replacement examples later in the programmeÂ’s Tranche 2 production phase.
The Royal Saudi Air Force will receive its first Typhoon in mid-2009, with its first 24 examples to be completed at BAEÂ’s Warton site in Lancashire. An industry source says discussions on training and support packages have yet to conclude between the UK and Saudi Arabia, although initial RSAF Typhoon pilots will undergo conversion training alongside their RAF counterparts.
Final confirmation of Saudi Arabia's Project Salam deal marks the Eurofighter consortium’s second export success for the multirole type, with Austria having so far received two of its eventual 15 aircraft. The Eurojet consortium which manuafctures the Typhoon's EJ200 turbofan engines says the Saudi deal is worth up to £1 billion for manufacturing and support activities.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/12/06/220135/saudi-arabias-eurofighter-typhoon-deal-gets-final-confirmation.html -
Typhoon's supercruise capability sounds very overhyped to me. With its kinda external store configuration, it won't supercruise with a Cat III load. Somebody prove me wrong.
Guess which is still the only true supercruise capable fighter? F-22. As long as the weapons are stored internally, the aircraft can supercruise. -
you guess missing out Rafale being able to supercruise too? arent you kinda BS that only internal stored weapons then can supercruise?Originally posted by Shotgun:Typhoon's supercruise capability sounds very overhyped to me. With its kinda external store configuration, it won't supercruise with a Cat III load. Somebody prove me wrong.
Guess which is still the only true supercruise capable fighter? F-22. As long as the weapons are stored internally, the aircraft can supercruise.
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It depends on the drag factor of the weapon. Fair enough, the Raptor stores its weapons internally in order not to compromise its stealth features, but thats also one of the factors contributing to its supercruise ability.Originally posted by duotiga83:you guess missing out Rafale being able to supercruise too? arent you kinda BS that only internal stored weapons then can supercruise?
Several jets out there can supercruise when clean. The oldest being the English Electric Lightning. But when you slap weapons and ammo on them, the story is different.
No, I sincerely doubt the Typhoon can supercruise in a Cat III load. -
I agree that having one more aircraft platform might be worth the cost and other disadvantages of having too many platforms. I was worried when USAF grounded all F-15's last month due to possible catastrophic airframe failure. Fortunately for us, the grounding has since been narrowed down to just the F-15C, which is different from ours.
Anyone know the actual reason our RSAF rejected the Typhoon? I recall it was because certain requirements were not met and RSAF rejected it soon after it was down to three (Rafale, F-15 and Typhoon).
Rafale still hasn't made any foreign sale - will RSAF take a risk on buying it?
Yep, with oil nearly $100/barrel and threat of nukes from Iran, Saudis have the cash and will to buy top-of-the-line planes. I read in Flight mag that their Tornadoes and Typhoons may be be equipped with MBDAÂ’s Storm Shadow cruise missile.
Aside from the Saudis, the UAE has 80 F-16E/F Block 60 and 436 Leclerc MBTs.