Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH and NETMA (the NATO Eurofighter & Tornado Management Agency) have agreed the contract to develop the next capability enhancement package for the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) SD (system definition) package contains a number of new developments, including an automated sensor management capability for all Typhoon radars.
This allows the user to exploit the capabilities of the AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar to complete multiple simultaneous tasks, while reducing the pilot workload required as they manage different sensors.
The package also includes an improved cockpit interface and enhanced Radio Frequency Interoperability (RFIO). This will improve survivability and lethality.
In addition to the automated sensor management capability, P4E will introduce DASS (Defensive Aids Sub-System) upgrades for all customers and includes the German IOC (Initial Operating Capability) additional electronic warfare capability.
Furthermore, the P4E SD will undertake the analysis necessary to extend the service life of the Typhoon, ensuring the aircraft is available for decades to come.
Giancarlo Mezzanatto, Chief Executive Officer, Eurofighter, said:
“Typhoon, the backbone of European air defence, will protect our skies into the 2060’s, and therefore it is vital that we continue to enhance the capabilities of the platform and ensure it is operationally effective. The P4E package is central to achieving that mission – providing users with an improved cockpit, powerful sensors and enhanced electronic warfare capabilities.”
Simon Ellard CB FREng, General Manager, NETMA, said:
“As the operational environment evolves, it is essential that we continue to grow Eurofighter’s capabilities to meet current and future threats. The P4E system definition package is a significant milestone in the delivery of an extensive capability upgrade that will ensure Eurofighter remains cutting-edge and a strong deterrence to our adversaries.”
The capability development activity will take place within the four Eurofighter Partner Companies — BAE Systems, Airbus Germany, Airbus Spain and Leonardo — supported by the consortium’s wider supply base.
“Typhoon, the backbone of European air defence, will protect our skies into the 2060’s”
By 2060, the partners ‘might’ have decided what sandwich options they are having at the future meeting to discuss phase 4 enhancement….
Then of course there’s the separate negotiations re beverages for the meeting.
I hear the Germans are heading those discussions….
Quite frankly it’s laughable, while these ‘discussions’ move at a slugs pace, Rafal, F35, etc, etc are hoovering up the orders….
Working with the Germans, never, ever again……
I can’t honestly see the a Typhoon going until the 2060s, can you? But, I’d like to get there myself… 😂 What with Tempest, F35 variants and whatever else crops up in the next 5-10 years. In the meantime I think we’re all gunning for the RAF to get its upgraded T4 Typhoons asap plus some more please.
We need the Germans for the Boxer, CR3, ammunition, nice cars, tasty sausages and good quality chocolate!
Tornado will see close to 50 years service, Harrier will do 55+ years. Jaguar which is still used by the Indian AF has done 50+. So its not impossible Typhoon to see 60 years. Perhaps not with the UK.
Thanks Expat. Pretty long years that you’ve listed there. Hope the Tempest comes to fruition. It’ll be interesting to see any future developments of F35 family and if any future variants of the F35Bs or Harrier type aircraft. The F35A looks like a mini-Tempest don’t you reckon?
“…and if any future variants of the F35Bs…”
That would depend on the USMC.
I can see NGAD being the usual bloated US defence program. They will build 100 of them and they cost a billion each do they will end up going for an F35 DEF variant with adaptive cycle engines and laser beams.
The B52 will still be in service in 2060 😀
Yeah good example. Probably end up longest serving airframe of all time.
The best thing we could do to preserve the quality of British chocolate is to stop Americans replacing traditional loved recipes with generic rubbish recipies. Never bought Nestle again since they scrapped the old Kit Kat & Milky bar rcipies for cheap generic rubbish.
Sorry to hear that the standards of British chocolate 🍫 have taken a tumble in your eyes. Maybe with the FTA Aus can send you some over. Cadbury and Nestlé are pretty good, Kit kats here are fine as are Arnotts Tim Tam’s. New Zealand’s Whittaker’s brand is also good.
Back to defence matters….lol 😁
“New Zealand’s Whittaker’s brand is also good” HELL YEAH!
Very partial to a Tim Tam or two myself Mate.
Cadbury Plc was taken over by Kraft Inc. best known for square orange plastic cheese, so the probable home of Charlie’s Chocolate Factory and Umpalumpas is not what it used to be. They used to make regional variants because UK Chocolate just melts in Asia.
Don’t forget ‘the’ most important thing.Beer!
Notwithstanding the politics that has hamstrung the Eurofighter development, as alluded to by John. There is other development that has been going on quietly in the background. The first is by BAe, who are updating the cockpit architecture. This removes the HUD and replaces it with a new helmet, that contains the display system. Secondly they are replacing the three head down multi-function displays with one large wide area display. This is very much in line with the architecture of the F35. Leonardo have clearly been developing the AESA radar. But also they have been contracted to build the next… Read more »
“…will protect our skies into the 2060’s…”
I am sure C.M. CEO, of EF has mixed up Typhoon for F-35!
NO way Typhoon will be operational into 2060’s!
Late 2040’s, maybe?
B-52s are looking at close to 100 years in service.
Triggers broom, with fresh Rolls Royce jet engines and carbon fibre wings…
The ship of Theseus
They have orders for production slots out to 2030 now for Germany that’s why it will be in the air until 2060, the German’s only recently dropped F4 and they are still flying Tornado.
Yes, Germany has just ordered another 20 Typhoons in addition to a prior 38. Question I add suppose, is will the UK do something similar or upgrade any/all T1s? How long do you want to wait if there’s a gap now or potentially coming?
Interesting to note a German Minister has not ruled out further purchases of Typhoon beyond the 38 (Quadriga) +20.
It will probably depend upon how expensive the Tempest is. Since Typhoon has a high operating cost, if Tempest does better, Tempest will replace the Typhoon. In any other scenario, Typhoon will be praised, because nonchalant investment is needed to keep a fleet.
I am not even considering capabilities, because their are so many ways to boost them that it does not matter. (Ex: S300, no stealth -> storm shadow).
Quite. Always politics. France and the Swedes did it differently and better. Germany added decades to development and in-service times and were bribed with a German H.Q. and C.E.O. for both airframe and engine manufacture.
Not withstanding John’s comments and the politics surrounding the 4 partner nations involvement with Eurofighter. BAe and Leonardo have been quietly working in the background on enhancements and developments. With BAe, they have developed a new cockpit architecture, which is going through trials currently. This replaces the HUD with a helmet mounted display system, much like the F35s. Also they are replacing the three multifunction screens, with a singular wide area display, again similar to the F35s. This is to help reduce the pilot’s workload, by displaying information more easily. Leonardo meanwhile, besides the AESA radar development, have the contract… Read more »
Coming to UK squadrons in the 2030’s?
I see the Germans have just ordered another 20 new Eurofighters.