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The operational requirements for today’s Eurofighter Typhoon, the world’s most advanced multi-role combat aircraft, were agreed by the Chiefs of Air Staff of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in January 1994 in the form of a European Staff Requirement. The four Nation agreement, the basis for the project’s development programme, defined the requirement for an extremely agile fighter which would dominate the skies to the mid-21st Century.
The aircraft’s specification defines a single-seat, twin-engine, extremely agile, multi-role combat aircraft. The reality is that Eurofighter Typhoon's advanced design provides assured air dominance against all threats. Eurofighter Typhoon will provide air forces with a uniquely flexible multi-role aircraft, fully capable of performing autonomous out of area operations.
Inherent to the design of Eurofighter Typhoon, is its comprehensive multi-role
capability:
Eurofighter Typhoon's superior design and flexibility represents
the most advanced technology in aerodynamics, stealth, construction avionics, engine and
missile design. In meeting the requirements of the four European partner nations -
Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom - the aircraft will be fully capable of
operations world-wide. Key characteristics include:
The Eurofighter Typhoon pilot is assured dominance against all
threats. He enjoys a survivable, multi-role weapon system with reach and lethality. The
design and specification of the aircaft encompasses the benefits of unrivalled technology
in terms of:
LETHALITY
Supersonic BVR Combat
Today's air dominance fighters have to be extremely agile in order to meet the increasing demands of both supersonic BVR combat, and sub-sonic close-in combat. With its combination of aerodynamic instability, foreplane / delta configuration, and sophisticated flight control system, Eurofighter Typhoon demonstrates high agility both sub-sonically and supersonically.
A typical BVR engagement would involve identification of targets over 70 miles away, with the automatic assessment and prioritisation exchange from the ECR 90 radar, and infra-red systems. Eurofighter Typhoon would then accelerate to a high supersonic mach number in order to close on its target quickly, and impart maximum energy to its missiles on release.
Eurofighter Typhoon’s inherent BVR capability allows the fighter pilot to engage at long ranges before he himself comes within the lethal zone of his adversary's missiles. Following a successful BVR attack, the pilot would breakaway and escape from any incoming missiles fired by the enemy aircraft.
It is the unparalleled supersonic agility, carefree handling and
overall Fightability of the aircraft that gives Eurofighter Typhoon the edge over its
competitors in BVR combat.
Subsonic Close Combat
In close combat, Eurofighter Typhoon’s agility helps complement the full range of supporting combat systems that provide the pilot dominance over an adversary during close combat. Not least on the fighter pilot's inventory are:
Armed with the latest short range, all aspect infra-red seeking missiles and integral 27mm Mauser cannon, the Eurofighter Typhoon pilot can withstand the high 'g' environment of close combat thanks to automatic pressure breathing and new 'g' protection measures.
Air to Surface Attack Superiority
Eurofighter Typhoon's supremacy and versatility as a multi-role
combat aircraft is marked by its highly potent and comprehensive air-to-surface attack
apability. Typical operational roles include:
Relying on Eurofighter Typhoon’s unmatched performance,
survivability and unique integrated sensor suite the pilot can precisely deliver a high
variety of air-to-surface weapons over long range. Key features include :
FLEXIBILITY
Flexibility of use is one of the hallmarks of Eurofighter Typhoon;
from its operational Flexibility, as a highly capable multi-role combat aircraft, to its
inherent Flexibility in terms of its outstanding Reliability and Maintainability. Above
all, it is Eurofighter Typhoon’s Fightability that places it ahead of the pack - an
air dominance fighter that will meet the demands of air warfare well into the 21st
Century:
SURVIVABILITY
To survive in a hostile combat environment, all modern fighter
aircraft must be designed with inbuilt Stealth properties to create low observability
features. Eurofighter Typhoon offers exceptional levels of Survivability through:
In addition to its inherent Stealth, Eurofighter Typhoon's
Survivability is further enhanced by the inclusion of a fully integrated Defensive Aids
Sub-System (DASS), as part of its avionics system. DASS presents the pilot with crucial
and prioritised threat assessments, allowing for automatic or manual response to multiple
threats. The system includes the following elements:
Survivability of the aircraft also extends to the high level of
damage prevention and tolerance within the design of Eurofighter Typhoon. Dual redundant
systems have been used, and essential equipment have been strategically positioned around
the aircraft.
Maximum speed : 2125 km/hr
Time to 10670m
: 2.5 minutes
Runway requirement
: 700m
T/O run, air combat mission
: 300m
Air defence with 3hr CAP
:
185 km
Air defence with 10-min
loiter : 1389 km, int fuel and
two AIM-120 +9/-3
