Albeit I’m not overly optimistic I make exactly one attempt to move the discussion about Typhoon’s material composition. This topic is filling pages in the Rafale thread, though it should be discussed here.

The real facts (limited to those aspects discussed):
1) All of the illustrations shown contain some errors, whether third party or from Eurighter!!!
2) Canards are made from titanium, but have alluminium panels applied to their leading edges.
3) Front airintake skin is made from aluminium-lithium alloys.
4) Slats and outboard flaperons are made from titanium.
5) Canopy frame is made of aluminium.

Note: This represents a top level description mainly related to the airframe’s skin.

One question is: How many residual JAS-39A/B are still left ??

In total, Sweden AF procured 125 JAS-39A and 15 JAS-39B.

* 3 JAS-39A were lost due to the air crash accidents between 1993 and 2005.

* 16 airframes of JAS-39A/B were decided to be converted to 14 JAS-39C/D for Hungary AF during 2003.

* 20 2nd batch JAS-39A were upgraded to JAS-39C for Sweden AF before 2007.

* 18 JAS-39A and 13 JAS-39B were upgraded to JAS-39C and JAS-39D for Sweden AF between 2008 and 2015.

* No less than 12 JAS-39A (with or without B) were converted to 12 JAS-39C/D (8C and 4D) for Thailand airforce after 2011.

According to my personal calculation, the Sweden AF shall have no more than 58 JAS-39A in stockpile, and I wonder how many of them are still intact enough that can be directly converted to JAS-39C/D ~ The JAS-39A/B with better condition should already have been chosen by SwAF, HuAF, and ThAF for upgrading to the JAS-39C/D in the past 10+ years……..

There were 30 JAS 39A ordered for batch 1, one was built as the JAS 39B prototype and one was used as a replacement for the first crashed prototype. 96 A and 14 B were ordered for batch 2 with the last twenty being built as C (not converted from A to my understanding) 50 C and 14 D were ordered for batch. 3. It’s my understanding that the B prototype became the D and ultimately NG-Demo afterwards. I actually thought the Thai, Czech and Hungria. gripens are all new build C/D with the Czech and Hungrian examples being taken from the Flygvapnet batch 3. 31 former A/B were brought up to C/D standard.

Are there sources available that any of the export examples were in fact converted from former SwAF A/B? Hear this for the first time, though I know that a lease or sale of upgraded A/B was previously considered for Hungary.

Also, our man Scorpion82 and a few others around the net are suggesting that the UK is no longer ditching its Tranche 1s.

They may keep them operational beyond 2019, but preparations for starting the storage have commenced. As outlined earlier the RAF intents to bring its remaining T1s to Drop 4 standard later this year.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sensor-upgrades-top-usaf-wish-list-for-f-35-block-4-413070/

Some info on the block 4 wishlist, incl. big SAR, EOTS upgrades and new weapons like SDB II.

Looks as if the new tripple launcher is tripple for Brimstone, but dual for PW IV. Appears to make sense now when correlating with some other info.

Common Launcher Development for Typhoon
(Source: BAE Systems; issued May 28, 2015)
The UK Ministry of Defence has provided £1.7 million of funding to research a common weapon launcher for Typhoon that could be capable of carrying multiple weapons and weapon types on one aircraft attachment point.

The project will bring together expertise from ourselves as the weapons integration lead for Typhoon and the weapons manufacturers MBDA and Raytheon UK. If the research is successful this could be the latest development in a programme of activity to ensure that Typhoon continues to deliver world-leading capability for the armed forces.

Andy Eddleston, Typhoon Product Development and Future Capability Director said: “Developing a common weapon launcher solution could significantly enhance Typhoon’s ability to deliver increased weapons persistence and effects. Each launcher could be capable of carrying up to three weapons, providing a great deal of flexibility and persistence for the operator.”

The common weapon launcher, if the research is successful and the programme taken forward, could offer a flexible and cost effective solution for customers. The launcher could potentially carry weapons such as the Dual Mode Brimstone 2 Missile and the Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb.

Typhoon is already regarded as a world-leading combat aircraft and it continues to advance in order to deliver the latest technologies to keep its operators ahead in a constantly changing global environment. Recent enhancements in capability include the integration of the Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb and contracts to integrate the Captor E-Scan radar and the Dual Mode Brimstone Missile.

Interesting change as the twin-store carrier was just recently considered. Remains to be seen whether this renders the twin carrier obsolete or whether both will be developed. It’s also interesting as a tripple launcher for Brimestone exists already.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/164062/raf-mulls-common-weapon-launcher-for-typhoon.html

@Spudman & B_i_O

Thank you both for the clarifications wrt the Block 3F standard and the information on the UAI! Much appreciated.

Once UAI comes online in Block4 (it was never Block3 btw), it will put to bed most Weapon Integration issues in one fell swoop.

Hasn’t UAI been slatted for other platforms as well?