QinetiQ has secured a new five-year contract from the MoD to provide engineering services for the Typhoon combat aircraft.
The new £127 million contract will see QinetiQ delivering a wide range of services in support of the multi-role fighter from planning and acceptance through to regulatory assurance and trials support, as well as initiatives to optimise the in-service capabilities of the aircraft.
“The company’s knowledge and expertise will play a central role in the Typhoon radar development programme and data analytics for operational missions. QinetiQ will be capitalising on specialist skills within EDP’s Provider Network1 to add value and deliver additional service benefits to DE&S and the RAF over the lifetime of the new contract.
This award builds on QinetiQ’s long-standing partnership with Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) on the Typhoon and will form the second phase of the Phased Enhancement Programme2 for the aircraft, following on from the company’s work on Phase 13 earlier in the year. The Typhoon continues to extend its capabilities and performance through a structured development programme that is helping to maximise the aircraft as a sophisticated weapon system to meet both the current and projected priorities of the Royal Air Force.”
Nic Anderson, QinetiQ Group Managing Director Air & Space, said:
“Through EDP we provide essential engineering expertise to UK MOD and are proud to contribute to the UK’s critical defence capabilities through the Typhoon programme. This significant contract takes total orders through EDP to over £500m since inception two years ago – an excellent example of our strategy in action, delivering significant savings and innovation for the UK MOD.”
So when will the EJ200 get more power and thrust vectoring?
More power I don’t know though I suspect its a matter of timescale, however I am not convinced that the Typhoon will ever get Thrust vectoring due to cost and as we have experienced on here mixed views on its usefulness outside of a very narrow use scenario. So far the UK has shown little obvious interest in the German developed aerodynamic aids that are quite cheap to retrofit so seems highly unlikely such a big move to Thrust Vectoring is on the cards in the foreseeable future when over the horizon weaponry seems to be the prime interest. Just don’t see the bang for buck will be deemed a priority. That said I do see some longer term EJ200 development incorporating thrust vectoring as part of the Tempest programme mainly to assess its suitability and value to that programme. However all just my gut feeling based on previous events and decisions.
It seems unlikely that mechanical thrust vectoring will be used on Tempest. More likely to be blown air, per Magma demo platform. In this context it won’t be for extreme maneuvers but for maintaining low radar observability by avoiding or minimising mechanical control surface movement, with the added benefit for cooling the exhaust to reduce thermal signature.
https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/magma-the-future-of-flight
All of what Spyintheskyuk said below.
Also, the big drive for Typhoon at the moment is to develop the multirole features that were lacking at launch- it is/was already a great interceptor with a great power to weight ratio.
The current additions of AESA radar with EW capabilities, broader weapons loads, etc. are building out what the Typhoon was lacking, rather improving where it is already very competitive. It could be argued that the Typhoon’s relatively poor export history is largely to do with it not being as good at multirole, rather than it being outperformed in the interceptor role.
I should have said, I agreee with you though, that an upgunned EJ200 would be good to see.
Wasting money on the aerodynamics and engines for Typhoon is one of those internet memes that just wont die!
The aircraft has superlative kinematic performance. It does not need any improvements to that.
What it desperately needs is improvements to its avionics, radar as mentioned, and dealing with some outstanding reliability and obseolesence issues. Integration of new weapons (twin store carriers, Spear3 and so on) are where we want to spend our money – and any spare money on more spares to better utilise the fleet we have. CFTs is also an area we could look at although endurance/range isnt really a major issue.
If we really want to invest in it – buy more Tranche 3s and scrap the outdated and maintenance pain Tranche 1s.
Agreed 100%
Typhoons performance is already outstanding, but i understand they are looking at more powerful version of the EJ200 to improve performance when carrying very heavy air-ground weapons such as storm Shadow. EJ200 in it’s current form can produce 15% extra thrust in a war setting, but it affects engine life.
Agree
Thanks for the article, Lisa.
Would you happen to know what the Phased Enhancement Programme is delivering?