PIRATE, full DASS, full sensor fusion, enhanced GPS, improved autopilot, SRP4 (software), phase 5 FCS for full flight envelope clearance, full DVI, AG weapons to name those on top out of my head.

Does the phase 5 FCS improve manoeuvrability to the extent it could be be noticed at an air display? The aircraft in the video is clearly a FGR4.

I suspect that the plan is for T3A (40 jets) to be the last.

180 may not be enough for a full seven squadron force as originally planned, but where are the seven squadrons?

If the Oman order materialises might it come from the UKs 40 T3a batch?

IPA3 has actually been equipped with full DASS including MAWS and GT015 has received the PIRATE, these are the 2 aircraft to be deployed to the Swiss in november.

Is HEA available on either of these aircraft?

I’m surprised no FGR4 is being used to demonstrate self designation and other ground attack features.

Why is the Typhoon heavier than the Rafale?

I’m sure someone will correct me if I am wrong but the Typhoon is about 20% heavier than the Rafale. I would have expected a design optimised for air to air to work out lighter than one optimised for air to ground. What are the relative features of the designs that leads to this?

batch 4 block 8B (Phase 1 Enhancements) ~2012:
– New software based on RTOS
– improved MMI including display formats for AG weapons…
– Ability to attack AA targets, while continueing AG run
– new radios
– Improved MIDS (increased transfer rates; improved communication with ground units)
– imrpoved DASS (new ESM/ECM, maybe improved TRD)
– Captor-D additional AG modes
– new GPS (probably DGPS)
– IFF mode 5 likely
– unspecified external changes (maybe Apex strakes or already CFTs)
– weapons: full Litening II/III, IRIS-T (digital), EGBU-16 and Enhanced Paveway IV

As the Enhanced Paveway IV only weighs about 500lbs are there plans to include a dual load pylon for this weapon as part of block 8B?

I notice that ZJ946 and ZJ947 tranche 2 Typhoons made their first flights recently. It would appear that these are going to be delivered to the RAF and not the RSAF as RSAF Typhoons will be designated as ZK. According to this website http://www.targetlock.org.uk/typhoon/production_uk.html the RAF will be getting 7 of the first Tranche 2 Typhoons. I understand that these aircraft will only have the F2 software and not the ‘austere’ air-to-ground software of the FGR4. If this is the case they would seem ideally suited to the Falklands operations.

P1E

What will be included in the scope of P1E? Will Brimstone be included?