The Tranche 1s are in the position now because the UK MOD are too stingy to dish out funding for upgrades, or to keep them in service at least, as they sometimes are with other projects, in addition to lacking the vision of the future. However, it must be realised that Tranche 1 units were never meant to be multi/swing-role machines anyway, they were meant to be purely air superiority aircraft with initial A/G capabilities being introduced to Tranche 2 units and beyond, so there is a little bit of sense in why they’re in such limbo right now. However yet again, while it’s technically feasible to keep them up to date with the likes of Captor-E and CFTs et al, it’s the cost of doing so and that’s where the issues lays. Try sticking Captor-E and CFTs on the MIG-21 fleet and watch the costs rocket.

Saying that, they have been used rather extensively as opposed to their Tranche 2 counterparts with apparent insignificant costs, albeit not low yet not overwhelmingly high one must stress, with incredible availability ranging between (if memory serves correctly) 96% and 100%. Which ever way one wants to look at it, that’s a brilliant achievement for a batch of aircraft that were originally intended for air superiority purposes only.

http://ukarmedforcescommentary.blogspot.de/2014/06/news.html

There’s been nothing in recent reports to suggest that Brimstone will not be carried on the Typhoon’s wet stations, not to my knowledge anyway. It seems to be in the mind of the author, whomever it is – not a particularly good one, that he/she is going by the recent artist’s impression of Typhoon carrying the weapon and has just took it for granted.

Also, CFTs were always going to have an impact on stability, they would for any other aeroplane. Pick up an Orange 4×12 cab that weighs 100lb and it’s going to have an impact on your stability. Where there’s an action, there is a reaction. Pretty obvious really, isn’t it.

Better avoid that EELightning…

Especially if you’re from either one of those. Dear-oh-dear.

Epic, absolutely epic…

The ‘R’ in JSR really does stand for Retard.

Actually it does, every time Jon Lake writes in it at least.

Except for when he writes about Rafale then all is wonderful, apart from when it may sound a wee bit negative in which case he’s Rafale bashing.

Aaaah… The French’s strange obsession with Jon Lake. You know you love him, let it out, does you no good keeping it in.

Don’t worry, the Typhoon fleet have given a hell of a lot more than it’s fair share of a jolly good spiffing rogering, old chap.

Like every other fighter, Typhoon has been it the sights of many other aircraft, being ‘defeated’ is just as valuable lesson, and probably the most important one, as the rest. However, it’s success far outweigh it’s losses.

Hi EELightning, I have a genuine question for you. What is unusual about launching missiles at M1.6 at that altitude for an aircraft like Typhoon?

Is that without reheat or something?

I am genuinely confused:)

Good evening there,

Not unusual for the Typhoon, maybe for a handful of other fighters. It was designed for such abilities however, the report didn’t state what Mach number it cruised at but I suspect (personal point of view, an uneducated one at that) that they cruised to a lower Mach number than 1.6 then reheated the engines to that figure and beyond to launch and keep up the energy as their targets dispersed so they could keep higher and faster thus hold an advantage. Don’t take my word for it though.