Eurofighter Typhoon discussion and news 2015

Qatar Typhoon and Hawk programme in full swing say BAE

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/qatar-typhoon-and-hawk-programme-in-full-swing-say-bae/

Last RAF Typhoon to be delivered this year. BAE proposal for Saudi Arabia follow on order is for 43 of 48 frames to be assembled locally.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/bae-systems-studies-production-path-beyond-eurofight-460662/

Personally I hope Germany will block the supply of any more Typhoons to SA if the UK goverment does not block it. An interest in UK aviation does not mean that I am blind to the reality that UK-supplied Typhoons are used in the connission of crimes against humanity by the Saudi regime.

Altitude. The wings are designed to deploy almost immediately. And the drag of the wings cause the munition to decelerate quickly until the optimal glide speed is reached.

SPEAR range should be much less altitude dependence compared to SDB

Range of SDB is very dependent on altitude & speed of launch aircraft.

Altitude. The wings are designed to deploy almost immediately. And the drag of the wings cause the munition to decelerate quickly until the optimal glide speed is reached.

BAE Systems is close to delivering its final Eurofighter Typhoon for the UK Royal Air Force

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/bae-nears-final-typhoon-delivery-for-uk-460177/

I noticed the following in the article:

…in a half-year results report published on 31 July, BAE says: “The memorandum of intent signed between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UK government in March 2018 remains under discussion for a further 48 Typhoon aircraft, support and transfer of technology and capability.”

If finalised, the agreement will include in-country final assembly of the type, 72 of which have previously been acquired for the Royal Saudi Air Force.

Another fantasy of assembling Typhoons in Saudi Arabia? Look what happened last time. Nothing.

SDB I and II have a range of 80-90km, …. .

Range of SDB is very dependent on altitude & speed of launch aircraft.

£790k in 2011.

I never new that Storm Shadow cost £790,000 back in 2011. I remember seeing Storm Shadow in mock-up form at the now defunct RAF Leuchars airshow sometime in the early 2000’s.

Thanks for the info St. John.

Never thought about cost being a factor with a stealthy SPEAR 3, in comparison anyone know the total cost of the Storm Shadow cruise missile?

£790k in 2011.

Cost and simplicity is my guess. Additionally, with it being so small, it’s probably going to approximate a near tennis-ball-sized frontal RCS anyway.

Never thought about cost being a factor with a stealthy SPEAR 3, in comparison anyone know the total cost of the Storm Shadow cruise missile?

I would have wondered why the SPEAR 3 was not designed with Stealth from the start, considering that mbda systems have designed and built Storm Shadow.

Cost and simplicity is my guess. Additionally, with it being so small, it’s probably going to approximate a near tennis-ball-sized frontal RCS anyway.

SPEAR 3 is looking at 140km.
https://world.eurofighter.com/articl…almighty-punch

Spray a bit of jamming on the radar, launch 8 and then wait for impact.

I would have wondered why the SPEAR 3 was not designed with Stealth from the start, considering that mbda systems have designed and built Storm Shadow.

SDB II seeker is optimized for automated target recognition and hitting moving targets.

SDB I and II have a range of 80-90km, but the flyout time is longer since they are glide bombs. That range is within the F-35’s sensor capabilities against camouflaged targets and decoy discrimination.

SPEAR 3 is looking at 140km.
https://world.eurofighter.com/articl…almighty-punch

Spray a bit of jamming on the radar, launch 8 and then wait for impact.

When the seeker is a cat’s eye reflector, it does not matter if the weapon is small

Well, this discussion seems familiar. There is a Russian stealth fighter with a far bigger such reflector on the nose. I’m not sure the end cap even comes off until the missile is in the target area either. People are just guessing based on mock-ups and artists impressions at the moment.

A 1.8m long, 7 inch wide missile is going to have a pretty small RCS anyway.

When the seeker is a cat’s eye reflector, it does not matter if the weapon is small

SPEAR 3 has longer range and is more about SEAD/DEAD and taking out vehicles with SAM cover. SDB I/II are more about taking out buildings or parts of buildings from closer ranges, or large patrol boats too I guess. SPEAR 3 can also take low level routes to the target if need be.

SDB II seeker is optimized for automated target recognition and hitting moving targets.

SDB I and II have a range of 80-90km, but the flyout time is longer since they are glide bombs. That range is within the F-35’s sensor capabilities against camouflaged targets and decoy discrimination.

The downfall of all three munitions is lack of VLO design which makes ECM support against enemy CIWS more difficult during the terminal phase. So you have to employ a simultaneous swarming attack to make sure some of the munitions get through to the target.

A 1.8m long, 7 inch wide missile is going to have a pretty small RCS anyway.

SPEAR 3 has longer range and is more about SEAD/DEAD and taking out vehicles with SAM cover. SDB I/II are more about taking out buildings or parts of buildings from closer ranges, or large patrol boats too I guess. SPEAR 3 can also take low level routes to the target if need be.

SDB II has a warhead 5 times the weight of Spear 3 warhead and SDB I has a warhead about 10 times the weight of Spear 3 warhead. Spear 3 can take out a room in a building. SDB II can take of a floor in a building and SDB I can take out a small building.

The downfall of all three munitions is lack of VLO design which makes ECM support against enemy CIWS more difficult during the terminal phase. So you have to employ a simultaneous swarming attack to make sure some of the munitions get through to the target.

SDB II is very similar to SPEAR 3 except the engine, it is better to develop your own weapon

In the munitions category you are also splitting the market and need up by the cost of the munition as that determines which target sets you can attribute to them. So while the weapons may be similar, if there is a significant cost difference between the two then that justifies maintaining inventories for both.

SDB II is very similar to SPEAR 3 except the engine, it is better to develop your own weapon

Thanks for that mig-31bm, I have found a link below from MBDA Systems about the SPEAR 3.

https://www.mbda-systems.com/product/spear/

If you scroll down in the MBDA-systems website the bottom photo shows just how many SPEAR 3 missiles the Typhoon will be capable of carrying.