Eurofighter has brought only a static replica of its Typhoon to Asian Aerospace and is unapologetic over the absence of the actual aircraft. Although the programme is forging ahead after well-publicised delays, despatching an aircraft to Singapore could not be justified, especially since a Typhoon is scheduled to make its flying debut in Asia in mid-year as part of a customer evaluation programme.
This programme will entail flights by Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots in the three aircraft types shortlisted to meet Singapore's Next Generation Fighter aircraft requirement.
The Typhoon is expected to undertake more than 100h of flying during this phase of the selection process.
Back in Europe, Typhoons are now entering service with the air forces of the partner nations, and frontline pilots are well into the conversion process. Some 620 aircraft have been ordered by Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and Typhoon has also been selected by the governments of Austria and Greece.
The British, German, Italian and Spanish governments will soon sign the development contracts that will give the Typhoon a full swing-role capability. Procurement agencies are finalising the key technologies and capabilities that will be incorporated in Tranche 2 aircraft, with technology requirements and funding profiles expected to be signed later this year. For potential Far Eastern customers, Typhoon offers some compelling advantages. Eurofighter is keen to develop technology partnerships across Asia and the Middle East, and is willing to provide access to some the world's most advanced defence technologies, in a way which will not be possible for nations signing up to the US Joint Strike Fighter programme.
Innovative
Moreover, the Eurofighter partners are keen to offer offsets to customers, and not just allow those customers to bid for work. Export customers will also benefit from the economies of scale offered by joint maintenance and training, and may also sign up for Eurofighter's innovative spares and support arrangements.
While some concerns have been expressed as to the exact standard of JSF being offered to export customers, and exactly which weapons and systems might be supplied with the F-15T, Andy Wilson, Typhoon programme director for Singapore, made it clear that the Typhoon was being offered with a full array of weapons. These include AMRAAM and Paveway LGB's, as well as new generation weapons including ASRAAM, Meteor, Storm Shadow and Brimstone.
Wilson said: "The aircraft is fully interoperable with current weapons systems as well as future planned systems, providing the optimum solution for air-to-air and air-to-ground operations."
JON LAKE
Source: Flight Daily News
