Eurofighter and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) have signed a contract to progress development, testing and certification of the Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK) for the Eurofighter Typhoon, the organisations stated.
According to Eurofighter, the AMK is intended to support faster integration of new weapons and the certification of new external loads, including future anti-radar missiles designed for the suppression and destruction of enemy air defence radars.
The company said the modification kit will also support the integration of additional air-to-ground weapons and air-to-air missiles for core customer nations operating the AMK variant. Future integrations are expected to include updated standoff missile capabilities.
Eurofighter stated that the AMK will also enable improvements to the aircraft’s air combat performance, including enhanced target acquisition and improved close-quarters combat capability. The changes are expected to be driven by modifications to the aircraft’s fuselage strakes, flaperons and leading-edge root, which Eurofighter said will result in increased maximum wing lift. Development and production of the AMK will be conducted by the Eurofighter partner companies Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
Jorge Tamarit-Degenhardt, Chief Executive Officer of Eurofighter, said the agreement marked a key step for the programme. “Signing the AMK contract marks a major milestone for the Eurofighter programme, further enhancing the jet’s long-term capability,” he said.
“The AMK will provide a huge boost to our Air Forces during their missions, significantly enhancing the integration of air-to-surface configurations and offering greater flexibility in stores carriage, while supporting flight performance. The Eurofighter Typhoon will continue to be the backbone of European air defence into the 2060s, and capability enhancements, such as the AMK, will ensure the platform is operationally effective to fulfil that role.”
Air Vice Marshal Simon Ellard (ret.), General Manager of NETMA, said the contract supports a range of improvements for the aircraft. “The signature of the AMK contract is a significant achievement for the Eurofighter Programme, enabling faster weapon integration, heavier load certification and host of other improvements,” he said.
“This contract will continue the evolution of the Eurofighter Typhoon, and reflects the Programme’s commitment to innovation and delivering the capabilities needed by our Air Forces.”
Image credit Eurofighter AMK: Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH
I would like to see Typhoon get the conformal fuel tanks that were wind tunnel tested. Greater reach is important.
Agreed, but as things stand at the moment it’ll probably take us five years to decide whether to join in at all.
Doom-mongers, Assemble!
I was under the impression that the conformal tanks, as designed, imposed an unacceptable penalty on flight performance and so were dropped (unintentional pun) from consideration.
Anti-radar missiles? There aren’t any future ones coming down the line in Europe apart from one mode of Stratus RS, are there?
Germany is currently integrating AARGM ER onto its typhoons and the only other anti radiation missile is STRATUS RS and LO. Given the size of STRATUS RS and LO I surmise this is the work being carried out under this contract to integrate them.
Ah, AARGM would make more sense. Given that the shape of Stratus LO changed drastically not long ago it seems a little early to start aerodynamics integration.
Spear 3 might also count as an anti-radar missile.
Other Google searches say this is going on the Tranches that Germany is buying so I doubt the RAF will see it unless further batches are bought.
Based on what I’ve read it looks to be part of the P4E programme which would be nice so at least the Trache 3 aircraft will get this. Fingers crossed.
Anti radar missiles for defence suppression, what a novel idea. Someone really should introduce the concept to the RAF…