How to future-proof RAF Typhoons

Since entering service in 2003 the RAF Typhoon has been the backbone of combat air defence for the UK, flying more operational hours than ever before in 2022.
Typhoon covers a full spectrum of air operations including air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict.
The aircraft is now halfway through its service life and must evolve to remain relevant in the rapidly evolving landscape of modern warfare.
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[@mickeyfilmer5551]

I used to go and watch the Typhoons being tested on a Sunday near Lytham- my goodness those aircraft can do some amazing things- seeing is believing. Almost vertical climb to 12-15000 feet or more in seconds and then almost turn on the spot. Just incresible aircraft.

[@bbbb98765]

And loud! Amazing to watch

[@dingleydell3250]

Just moved to Warton i can confirm they are still doing it!

[@dancole1612]

They pass over me almost daily and you can immediately recognise the sound other planes that go over.

[@TheBlackIdentety]

Doesn't matter in the age of beyond visual range combat. It's not stealthy. It's just cannon fodder.

[@andyjenno]

I've got a KZbin channel covering the Typhoons at Warton 👍

[@peterbennpan7288]

The quick responce Typhoons based at RAF Coningsby i have been into one of the bunkers where one was stored all ready to be up in the sky within minutes to protect UK skies! I was touching the missiles and and looking all around the jet and even went up the ladders to the cockpit where all the pilots gear was. Now you can't say many civilians have done that! One of the best experiences of my life it was! 👌

[@casparthomas4775]

Rafac or sweaty spotter ?

[@1chish]

Maybe interviewing someone on a technical matter while RIAT announcer is droning on wasn't such a good idea. Almost impossible to hear let alone understand what he was saying.

[@Husker5454]

Typhoon is in the same boat as F15 being such incredible 4th/4.5th gen fighters capable of really high performance BVR that they work along side 5th for years to come .

[@markdavidson1049]

Just as a side note, the Typhoon is quite superior to the F-15.

[@goodputin4324]

​@@markdavidson1049no it isn't 😂 the Eagles has AESA radar, typhoons none 😂😂😂

[@nickmccombe5637]

@@goodputin4324 actually ALL RAF typhoons are being given brand new AESA radars, same that we are refitting the F-35s with

[@OperationEndGame]

@@markdavidson1049 there’s no demand for EF-2000 outside of UK and Germany….

[@death_parade]

@@markdavidson1049 Lmao. How? Its range and payload that matters more now, for 4th gen platforms.

[@gunshipzeroone3546]

I like to know what would the uk do once the Apache helicopter goes, In 2035, will the uk design it own gunship or see what the USA has?

[@bbbb98765]

We're too small to design a new platform, so we'll either buy in, or possibly develop one with multiple NATO partners (like we did with Typhoon)

[@bigblue6917]

There is a new version arrive now so it may well be still flying passed that date. And let's not forget the US Marine corps Cobra.

[@Phil_AKA_ThundyUK]

The AH-64E variant will be in use in the UK beyond 2040 so probably just get the AH-64F or whatever it's called when it comes along, just that we'll only get about 5 because we're always getting too little of anything now.

[@davidhouseman4328]

I expect helicopters to be pushed out by drones over the next couple of decades.

[@Vythz]

As a patriot brit with immeasurable pride for our nation I would hope that we design our own new generation gunship but something tells me we will just go shopping in America.

[@princeoftonga]

When it comes to upgrading Typhoon an AESA radar was a planned upgrade right from when it entered service. I’m happy that they seem to be getting it just disappointed that it’s taken 20 years. I believe an engine upgrade to give more thrust was also planned, perhaps with thrust vectoring to give Typhoon super-manoeuvring capabilities.

[@death_parade]

Fun fact: SEPECAT Jaguars in Indian service got AESA radars before RAF Typhoons did.

[@death_parade]

@@8000jk Yeah, but the integration was carried out by India itself. And the Indian AESA you are talking about has recently completed development and will now go in Tejas Mk1A that is now in production.

[@8000jk]

@princeoftonga The typhoon is a magnificent aircraft. However, I am not sure if the MoD and RAF would want more F-35’s to be procured instead as they are a newer platform. It also depends on the upgrade costs compared to procuring new platforms (unless the costs are shared between partners or potential buyers of the typhoon).

[@princeoftonga]

@@8000jk Yes the cost of upgrading will be a thing. However Typhoon is not going to be replaced by F-35. Current plans are for Tempest to replace Typhoon from 2035 and then serve alongside F-35 beyond the 2040s. So even if the Tempest program stays on schedule Typhoon will still be in service until the mid 2030s with a final retirement date likely closer to 2040! I’d say that to keep Typhoon a viable combat platform for 15 more years improving its sensors and agility are the absolute minimum required. I’d personally want them to look at integrating conformal fuel tanks and a helmet display as well. And all that assumes Tempest isn’t delayed beyond 2035. The idea of operating a current standard Typhoon FGR.4 in 2040 would be like trying to use a P-80 Shooting Star or a Meteor F6 in combat in the 1980s!

[@Acanofbeer]

The meteor missile is awesome as is the Typhoon. Nobody has a better missile. Every pilot would be afraid of it and I don’t blame them.

[@henryvagincourt4502]

With MoD cut's we need it to have the capability to be in two places at once! What do we have now around 102 in service!

[@trevorhart545]

Roughly HALF of what we need.

[@d9720267]

Would live to see them with EJ230 engines and conformal fuel tanks.

[@sapiotone]

@Forces News, please get your team some shotgun and lavalier mics. They’ll do wonders for your audio

[@nearestyoutube]

They need to be guarded on the ground too. Funny reservist would do well

[@lukundosingogo7825]

Does the royal air force have strategic bombers

[@fastride852000]

Are all the UK missiles named after GI Joe characters?

[@death_parade]

Fun fact: IAF Tejas Mk1A are flying with AESA radars before RAF Typhoons. Heck, even the old Jaguars in IAF service have started getting the AESA radar before the RAF Typhoons.

[@Belzediel]

So, to summarise - how do we future proof the Typhoon? We won't.

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

Bring back the Spitfire.

[@derf9465]

😅😅😅Today's generation can't use simple had tools, bring back their great grandmother's.

[@admiralmallard7500]

I mean naming a new jet spitfire would be awesome, but certainly not the original 😅

[@injusticemattersuk4744]

The typhoon and the F-15 is not in the same boat it's two different jets The F-15 is a 50 years old jet you can't compare the F-15 with typhoon

[@Lucky_zeven]

It grows up during wartimes....

[@derf9465]

That's easy, you've only got 2 stations these fly from and one for the lame F35. Typhoon does all the work

[@dineshsingh-gb6un]

Tyhoon ka market nahi he

[@jayhollyoake9419]

🛩🛩🛩

[@bernardsmith1329]

Apart from the radar and avionics updates it would benefit from vectored thrust. I know the Germans have introduced LERX on a trials aircraft some years ago and say the inflight benefits are nearly as good as vectored thrust. OK, they really like it because of its lower cost. But vectored thrust has a lesser fatigue penalty for a similar high AoA. It also needs the dorsal tanks a la F16 as also designed in Germany.

[@Bob10009]

A thrust vectoring nozzle has already been tested on the engine.

[@cluckingbells]

Vectored thrust on a canard aircraft ? Wouldn't that just kick the typhoons arse out and slow its momentum, sort of opposite to the typhoons original design purpose.

[@bernardsmith1329]

@@Bob10009 Yes, it was made in Spain.

[@dineshsingh-gb6un]

Eska uttar machine me nahi he sochme he

[@krackerman3628]

If you mean EUROFIGHTERS then sure... EURO.

[@sridharvemula1791]

su57 and mig 41 is best choice for our country with local production in India and tot

[@dineshsingh-gb6un]

Market hota to pehle hi bik jata

[@dineshsingh-gb6un]

Ab sayad bunjaye

[@nigelbenn4642]

Future proof? Design, manufacture and implement a new one!

[@dineshsingh-gb6un]

Jitna pesa lugoge utna mal dikhega

[@sydclark5581]

Cost Performance Running cost When other (new) aircraft beat these 3 principles, it will get replaced with it or similar.

[@Otpevatel]

🤣🤣

[@andrasbrnk7863]

UK, buy 80 gripen E's with meteor missiles.

[@Phil_AKA_ThundyUK]

It would be a good idea if the UK had the ground support and facilities already in place but they don't so it'd be actually very expensive.

[@davidhouseman4328]

Why, it's worse, and given we already have typhoons it also more expensive.

[@Bob10009]

Gripes E doesn’t bring anything Typhoon doesn’t already have.

[@allanlees299]

While it is a pleasant pastime to post videos of fighter jets, the harsh reality is that such aircraft only have utility if they can get into the fight. The UK has zero hardened bunkers in which to store these jets, and wholly inadequate GBADs. In addition, stocks of A2A missiles are woefully low. What this means is that any serious attack by Russia would involve knocking out most Typhoons long before their pilots could scramble, and the few that survived would run out of munitions rather quickly - especially if the Russians also struck the depots in which the munitions are stored. As the UK currently has no known plans to mitigate these enormous deficits, it's clear that pictures of jets flying through the sky are not merely irrelevant but actively harmful because they pull attention away from the massive vulnerabilities the RAF presently has and give an entirely false sense of capability. Independent estimates drawn from credible war gaming scenarios suggest the UK would struggle to get even a handful of Typhoons into the air in the first hours after a Russian pre-emptive strike - and that assumes at least one runway would remain operational, which is a very big assumption indeed.

[@dannybartlett4225]

27 years old and usless hence why we are building tempest because these are at the end of there 30 year life span finished

[@Oxley016]

clueless

[@Bob10009]

Utter nonsense.

[@ahmedalsharman]

*Storm shadow* didnt perferom well in Ukraine , the majority of them got *shoot down* .it was suppose to be the wonder weapon for the Ukraine counter offensive.

[@flamingsmore5904]

I’m sure the several Russian generals, that have been killed by them also think they are useless.

[@1chish]

thank you for that contribution Comrade now toddle off and have another voddie ...

[@stevebarlow3154]

What utter tripe, the reverse is true.

[@ahmedalsharman]

@@1chish These are not my conclusions it was made by US military experts.

[@guywatkins5590]

storm shadow kicks ass, they've killed a few generals and hit many ammo dumps with them

[@NomenAK]

Or you could buy some Rafales

[@splatoonistproductions5345]

How bout no?

[@anglonig1]

What would be the point of that.

[@flamingsmore5904]

No point, as these are going to be replaced by the Tempest jet.

[@splatoonistproductions5345]

@@flamingsmore5904 and hopefully plenty of them, as one of the only nations to have a 6th gen fighter, might as well have a strong backbone

[@bbbb98765]

That would be pointless because we bought F35

[@roberttrevorwilliams3226]

sound is poor :)