RAF prepares to use Typhoon in combat

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:48am BST 09/08/2007

The long-awaited Eurofighter will be flown in combat for the first time next year when it is deployed to Afghanistan, defence sources disclosed yesterday.

The first of two redesigned £80 million jets able to attack ground forces as well as enemy aircraft have been delivered to the RAF this week, The Daily Telegraph has learnt. For the next year RAF pilots will be training hard to fly the supersonic jets at speeds of up to Mach 2 at 100ft through narrow valleys as they prepare the aircraft for the war in Helmand province.

By next July, eight of the aircraft, named Typhoons, are expected to be deployed to Kandahar air base to begin supporting British and Nato troops in their fight against the Taliban.

But it has been a long and expensive acquisition, with the aircraft initially expected into service by 2000. Almost £13 billion has been spent on the Eurofighter Typhoon programme and this figure is expected to rise to £20 billion when all 232 have been delivered to the RAF.

Nevertheless, they should prove a major asset when they replace the aging Harrier squadron that has been operating successfully in Afghanistan since 2004.

Being able to achieve speeds of more than 1,500mph and carrying a probable payload of two 1,000lb, laser guided Paveway bombs, the multi-role Typhoons will be able to deliver devastating firepower.

While the Harriers have been useful they are generally second on to the battlefield, with American jets with greater fuel capacity that are able to loiter over the ground providing the primary punch for British troops.

But by carrying extra fuel pods and with mid-air refuelling, the Typhoons, built in Britain by BAE Systems, can be stationed for several hours in the air, providing cover and support for troops during gun battles that sometimes last an entire day.

The sophisticated Sniper surveillance system will also allow pilots to view the battlefield through the eyes of ground troops, allowing them to drop bombs with pinpoint accuracy. The development means that in addition to being able to take on other fighters, the RAF Typhoons will be able to attack ground targets. The 27mm cannons will be used for the first time once ammunition can be supplied.

Wing Co Gavin Parker, officer commanding of XI Squadron, which took delivery of the latest fighters, said: "The Typhoon is already an exceptional air-to-air fighter and is demonstrating excellent potential in the air-to-surface role. It will make it a fantastic close air support machine."

The multi-role fighter

Maximum speed: Mach 2.25 or 1,800mph
Maximum G-force: 9Gs for pilot
Rate of climb: 62,000ft per minute
Service ceiling: 65,000ft
Gun: 27mm Mauser cannon
Missiles: Sidewinder and Meteor air-to-air, Storm Shadow cruise, Brimstone anti-tank, Harpoon anti-ship.
Other weapons: Enhanced Paveway and JDAM bombs
Wingspan: 35ft
Range: 870 miles



Izvor!!!

E , ovo je jedna od stvari koje svi ljubitelji vazduhoplovstva iscekuju godinama . Posle toliko godina razvoja , potrosenih para , hvaljenja i osporavanja najzad ce mo videti koliko Eurofighter zaista vredi . Takodje ce se videti da li je zaista potrebno imati prave stealth avione , ili je , kao sto misle mnogi evropljani i rusi , potrebno ici na kompromis izmedju stealth i letnih osobina . Kod Eurofightera su primenjene sve tehnologije kao i kod F-22 , osim stepena radarske nevidljivosti . Tu se kod F-22 otislo mnogo dalje , dok se kod Eurofightera islo samo na s usisnike , antiradarske premaze , pozlacivanje kabine . Ako je to dovoljno da Eurofighter moze da pridje dovoljno blizu F-22 i da udje u manevrsku borbu , bice veliko pitanje ko ce biti u prednosti , jer je Eurofighter pre svega razvijan kao dogfighter , a onda je uracunavano sve ostalo . Ako ga F-22 ne moze otkriti dovoljno daleko i unistiti pre nego sto udje u efektivni domet njegovih raketa , pitanje je ko ce slaviti na kraju dana , i da li je cena od preko 100 miliona dolara za F-22 opravdana . Doduse , u Afganistanu necemo moci videti nista od toga , ali ce rusi i mnogi drugi prateci dejstva Eurofightera moci mnogo da zakljuce , pogotovu sto se tice radarske vidljivosti prateci ga iz aviona kao sto je Il-76 u varijanti awacs-a .