I’ll answer the easy ones!

Blocks are not associated to PSCs or SRPs. Blocks represent a production standard. New PSCs and SRPs may be introduced with a new Block, but will then be loaded across all aircraft within the same Tranche.

The software Drops began as a UK-only upgrade for Tranche 1 aircraft, because development ended with the closure of the Main Development Contract – marked by the successful delivery of the FOC standard (SRP 4.3). Drop 1 was UK only. Drop 2 takes account of German requirements and allows access to German-‘owned’ parts of the aircraft, including the Attack Computer. Drop 3 brings Spain on board. Some of the content of the drops is being incorporated in Tranche 2 jets via P1EA and P1EB.

Germany has gone from SRP 4.1 to SRP 4.3. SRP 4.2 was the UK only austere air to ground standard (now incorporated in SRP 4.3 software, but still only used by the UK).

I don’t know that that’s true, Scorpion. They may have retained IRIS-T rounds and an ACMI pod. All that Grühne said was that they took the tanks off.

Tornado probably won’t be gone by 2020, though it will be a much reduced force by then.

There are no CURRENT plans for SDB or SPEAR Capability 3 (‘SPEAR’) on Typhoon. That could change, and indeed you might expect that by the time they get around to integrating Brimstone/SPEAR Capability 2, that weapon might seem a little old-hat compared to SPEAR Capability 3.

Unfortunately and confusingly SPEAR is the overall acronym for a range of precision weapons, but has also been adopted as the name of the MBDA submission to meet the SPEAR Capability 3 requirement.

Perhaps when we mean that MBDA weapon we should refer to it as the MBDA ‘SPEAR’®?

Electronic attack is an interesting one. If the UK Typhoon is going to gain a real EA capability, then we could see a divergence in AESA plans, since the chosen ‘Quadrinational’ solution may be less well suited to EA than a Bright Adder TDP based AESA.

Quel barbe!

You seeelly Eeengleesh!

Eet proves zat Rafale is ze premier Elint haeroplane, because ze Spectra, she is made by ze Thales, and so is zis sooopairb seeestem, n’est ce que pas, mon petit?

Cannon and SRAAMs are the most relevant weapons for QRA/Air Policing, and Eurofighter’s sheer performance (especially in time-to-height) makes it better suited to Austria’s requirements than L-159 or Hawk.

Firstly, Kovy, I don’t think that highlighting two quotes* from Colonel Pfeiffer could fairly be classed as ’emphasizing this story.’

I don’t feel much need to be critical, as the Luftwaffe blokes were very generous in talking about Raptor’s advantages and strengths, and did not make outlandish or exaggerated claims. They simply reported what had happened.

And to be strictly accurate I did not downplay “Rafale success at ATLC.” I simply corrected and commented on what was inaccurate propaganda.

*”When you get to the merge, the Typhoon doesn’t have to fear the F-22.’

and

*”In the dogfight the Eurofighter is at least as capable as the F-22 with advantages in some aspects.”

This is a Typhoon news thread, and the fact that Typhoon did better against F-22 than anyone else has up to now is Typhoon news, and while the Rafale fans might not like to hear that Typhoon achieved something that Rafale did not, I’m afraid that that’s life.

You’re going to like it even less when JG74’s successes against Rafale are highlighted, I suspect.

No, I’d be a tease if I posted:

“In the dogfight the Eurofighter is at least as capable as the F-22 with advantages in some aspects.” (Pfeiffer)