The Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed that the Eurofighter Typhoon will continue to underpin Britain’s combat air capabilities well into the 2040s, bridging the gap until the arrival of the Tempest next-generation fighter.
Conservative MP Graham Stuart asked what assessment had been made of the adequacy of the Typhoon Force in maintaining security until the Global Combat Air Programme becomes operational.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard said in his 8 September written response: “The Typhoon is a world-class combat aircraft and will continue to serve as the backbone of the UK’s Combat Air Force until at least the 2040s. To ensure it remains at the cutting edge of capability, the UK is planning significant investment in the Typhoon through-life equipment programme. This includes the delivery and integration of the advanced European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) radar, which will enhance the aircraft’s operational effectiveness.”
Pollard added that further details on Typhoon investment will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year.
The ECRS Mk2, developed in the UK, is designed to significantly expand Typhoon’s air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities. It brings electronic warfare features, improved tracking and targeting, and the ability to operate effectively in heavily contested electromagnetic environments.
The upgrade is considered central to ensuring the Typhoon fleet remains viable as a frontline combat system alongside future aircraft.
The Tempest, being developed through the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme with Italy and Japan, is expected to enter service from the mid-2030s. Until then, the MOD’s position is that Typhoon, with ongoing upgrades, will continue to secure the UK’s airspace and meet NATO commitments.
If Typhoon is the backbone of the RAF into the 2040,s then let’s buy more. Another 24-36 would suffice.
Absolutely makes sense, and that’s why we won’t do it. We’ll harp on about F35A’s and Tempest as a deflection mechanism to ensure we don’t spend the money, however pragmatically the spend may appear.
It’s just that we don’t have enough of them. For a start, instead of buying F35As, let’s get Typhoon certified and fitted to carry nukes.
Even the Germans didn’t want to pay for that headache and went with As, can’t see the U.K. funding it.
Stealth enables this capability, we gave it up years ago, It makes sense now.
The UK is always really good at finally getting everything on to a platform and have it working perfectly just before it scraps them. They have been going on about ECRS Mk2 for 15 years and they still don’t really have a plan to get it on the aircraft.
It’s also worth noting that the Typhoon will probably remain the ultimate fourth generation aircraft ever designed and it’s likely to remain the best platform for air policing and a number of other roles that don’t require expensive stealth jets.
It’s probably never going to be possible to get stealth aircraft availability rates up to as high as the Typhoon can achieve. A mixed force of 4th and 5th Gen aircraft will always make sense.
You can argue all you want about the mix of Typhoon, F35A and F35B sqns but the simple truth is we do not have enough fast jets to defend UK airspace (including the Falklands & Cyprus, equip the carriers and make a meaningful contribution to NATO’s eastern flank. We need more aircraft and more sqns. I’d go for 8 Typhoon, 4 F35A & 4 F35B sqns but whatever the mix I reckon we need at least 15 front line sqns.
“further details on Typhoon investment will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan“
Let’s hope that’s for an order for more Typhoons and not just upgrades for the existing force.
They are spending £3.5bn upgrading the Typhoon fleet. That’s been open source knowledge for a long time
Yeah I know, I’m hoping the Defence Investment Plan details new spending as a result of the increase to 2.6% GDP.
So, would it be true to say, radar x-section aside, that with ECRS Mk2 Typhoon is the equal of F-35?
Not at all: they are very different platforms.
Better in some respects such as EW but it is not primarily a stealthy platform as it cannot carry weapons internally.
As others have said Typhoon is peak 4+ Gen with this range of upgrades.
However, more of something are required as a backfill to create the mass that is required to deal with antics on several fronts at once.
I would say yes and no. For the RAF, the Typhoon has a better and more useful warfighting capability, due to the greater number of weapons from the RAF’s inventory it can carry, particularly for ground attack. For example Typhoon can carry Paveway, Brimstone and Storm Shadow. Technically it could also carry Spear-3, as it has successfully completed a guided firing trial. But would need to further trials to integrate the full mission system requirements. Whereas, our F35Bs can only carry Paveway for offensive missions. The MoD are looking to urgently purchase the GBU53 Stormbreaker stand-off glide bomb. Which has already been cleared on to the aircraft by the US. The Spear-3 F35 integration is delayed and waiting on the F35 getting the Block 4 update, which keeps slipping to the right. Alongside this Storm Shadow was supposed to be integrated on the F35, but was cancelled in favour of FCASW (TP15/RJ10 – Stratus). I’m not sure where that fits in the Block 4 weapons integration schedule. Typhoon is going to be (along with Rafale) the aircraft used as the test aircraft for TP15/RJ10 firing trials.
For air to air engagements, F35 with its APG-81 radar has a step change in performance and capabilities over Typhoon with the current Captor-M. When Typhoon gets ECRS Mk2 it should balance up the capabilities and performance between the two radars. The question is whether our F35s will get the newer APG-85, which may split the difference again. However, until our F35s get the Block 4 update, they are stuck with using US beyond visual range air to air missiles (BVRAAMs) such as the latest AMRAAM AIM120D. Whereas Typhoon uses Meteor Block 1, which has a significant range advantage over the AMRAAM. Even though the F35 will currently detect a threat earlier, it still has to get closer to fire the weapon. Whereas, Typhoon can stay that bit further away. Fairly certain that this scenario balances itself out between the Typhoon/Meteor and F35/AMRAAM to no clear advantage. When Typhoon gets ECRS2, we may also be seeing it equipped with the Block 2 version of Meteor. Which should give it a better advantage over the F35, so long as its not integrated with Meteor itself.
Both aircraft use the ASRAAM as its within visual range air to air missile (WVRAAM). Both aircraft can either use the radar to give target information to the missile, or rely on the missile’s own sensor. Additionally both pilots will be using a helmet mounted display, which allows the pilot to target aircraft just by looking at them. However, the F35 uses the electro-optical target system (EOTS), this is an IR based sensor network, that provides a full hemispherical view around the aircraft. Allowing the pilot to effectively look through the aircraft. Enabling the pilot to target aircraft behind and below the F35. Something which the Typhoon cannot do.
Performance wise, Typhoon is significantly faster than the F35. With the addition of underwing drop tanks, it has a much greater unrefuelled range. Though the F35 may be getting drop tanks. However, the Typhoon is the better aircraft for quick reaction alerts (QRA) duties. Overall, the Typhoon provides the better warfighting capability. Whereas, the F35 has the potential to be significantly better, when integrated with Meteor for BVRAAM engagements and other stand-off ground attack weapons, where it uses its stealth, low probability of intercept radar (LPI) and the EOTS, to gain an advantage over its adversary. These next step capabilities are entirely reliant on Lockheed Martin delivering the Block 4 update, which has missed its delivery date a number of times and is now looking to be delivered by early 2030. The other niggle for the F35B, is that in “stealth mode” it can only carry 4 BVRAAMs internally. Which means it can’t stay in a protracted fight for long. However, both aircraft have the potential of carrying 10 or more BVRAAMS in “beast mode” if required.
The other F35 pain, is a that it is very maintenance heavy compared to the Typhoon, which itself isn’t great. However, the F35 does have a lot less operational availability than the Typhoon. Which could affect how a campaign is fought.
A lot to unpack there, thanks. I think I’m in the bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush school. ECRS Mk2 + range + Meteor + stand off weapons options + availability + prospect of sovereign air launched hypersonic with nuclear warhead beats F-35 Block 4 in 5 years time. Our carrier strike F-35Bs do need Stormbreaker asap. I think Europe needs RAF lots of Typhoons with Meteor and RJ10/TP15; Storm Shadow in the meantime.
What I detest about this Govt is the wholesale copying of the Cons with news releases. It is reprehensible that the previous Govt were loathed for their performance and this one copies them.
I’ll not vote for Farage the garage, nor Corbyn but, there is no honesty in our politics, who to vote for when the time comes?
So, would “We” commenters prefer, if it was a two way option –
A) all existing Typhoon to be fully upgraded to whatever will be with the new radars,
or
B) only upgrade the Batch 3 and order extra?
Regardless of the supposed 5% there will not be enough money for both.
Typhoons our back bone very true , but any chance of orders for more NO chance 🙄
A modest expansion of the Typhoon fleet is a far better use of the defence budget than pouring more into the F35 money pit. It is reported that Switzerland may reduce its planned purchase of 36 because its hoped for fixed price contract may mow rise to $9b. Not only are F35 costs rising and availability rates stuck at @50% but there are doubts that the full block 4 software upgrade can be delivered. So our F35 Bs will continue to deploy only ASRAAM, AMRAAM and PAveway 4 gravity bomb for years. Simply not good enough. The only way for Britain to enhance both its air defence and air strike capabilities is Typhoon. Are all our political and military leaders so dim, they can’t see it?
Maybe we can sell older typhoons to Ireland so they can
actually defend their own skies
People tell me the RAF don’t want more Typhoons, they only want F-35A. This seems odd to me. If I was Chief of the Air Staff and someone offered me 24 new Tranche 4 Typhoons, I’d bite their hands off. Is this portrait of the senior RAF true or false?