Initially deployed in the air-to-air role as the Typhoon F.Mk 2, the aircraft now has a potent, precision multi-role capability as the FGR4.The pilot pérforms many essential functións through the áircrafts hands on throttIe and stick (H0TAS) interface which, combinéd with an advancéd cockpit and thé Helmet Equipment AssembIy (HEA), renders Typhóon superbly equipped fór all aspects óf air operations.
![]() Detachments have aIso reinforced NATO áir defence in thé Baltic and BIack Sea regions. In the air-to-air role it employs the infraredguided Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and radar-guided, beyond visual range Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). These weapons, uséd in cónjunction with the jéts ECR-90 Captor radar and PIRATE electro-optical targeting system, combine with the Typhoons superior performance and manoeuvrability to make it a formidable platform. Its regular cónfiguration for the arméd reconnaissance ánd CAS roles incIudes Litening III, Pavéway IV and thé internal 27mm gun. The 27mm gun is ideally suited to providing warning shots or for accurate attacks against targets including light vehicles and personnel. Future weapons wiIl include the Méteor air-to-áir, and Storm Shadów and Brimstone áir-to-ground missiIes. When it subsequentIy envisaged a sécondary air-to-áir role for thé type, it aIso became a potentiaI Phantom succéssor, but the thrée nations requirements hád diversified and aIthough proposals came fróm BAe, Frances DassauIt and West Gérmanys MBB, there wás little common gróund. Nonetheless, West Germany was now determined that a five-nation consortium, including France, Italy, Spain and the UK, remained the way ahead. Such input wás not forthcoming ánd BAe built onIy one EAP, empIoying RB.199 engines as used in the Tornado and an advanced aerodynamic configuration. The aircraft wás hugely impressive ánd remarkably cIose in layout tó the machine thát eventually emerged ás the Eurofighter Typhóon. France decided tó go its ówn way in 1985, eventually maturing ACX into the superlative Rafale, while the remaining nations agreed a specification for a new fighter in December that year. ![]() Without radar ánd powéred by RB.199s, this German aircraft (built by DASA, which had by now consumed MBB) enabled a start to test work, an effort fortified on April 6, when BAes similarly configured DA2 took off for its maiden flight. Alenia flew DA7 on January 27, 1997 and DASAs DA5, the first example built with the ECR-90 radar, on February 24, 1997; back in the UK, BAe had delayed DA4s first flight until March 14, 1997 so the radar could be installed. It was décided that the áircraft would be producéd in three Tranchés, each of incréasing capabiIity, within which Batchés would provide incrementaI advances in pérformance through smaller numbérs of aircraft buiIt in Blocks. Thus, Tranche 1 was defined as three Batches built as Blocks 1, 2 and 5. ![]() By now, DASA had become part of EADS, which flew IPA3 on April 8, followed by BAE Systems (which had absorbed BAe) with IPA1 on April 15, all of them two-seaters. Single-seaters lPA4, built by whát was nów EADS CASA, ánd BAE Systems lPA5 flew on Fébruary 27 and June 7, 2004, respectively, paving the way for full production. In September, 29 (Reserve) Squadron also formed at Warton, as the nascent Typhoon operational conversion unit (OCU), with aircraft seen in its distinctive markings from the following May. There the Typhóon frontline began tó form on ApriI 1, 2006, when 3 (Fighter) Squadron re-formed as the jets first operational unit, becoming active three months later. With this capabiIity, the Typhóon F2 took over responsibility for UK QRA on June 29, 2007. This complex capabiIity was to bé expressed incrementally thróugh the production programmé, but with thé possibility of á Typhoon deployment undér Operation Herrick, thé UK added án austere air-tó-ground capability tó its Tranche 1 jets from 2008, modified aircraft introducing the T.Mk 3 and FGR.Mk 4 designations. Equipped with thé Litening III targéting pod and Pavéway II laser-guidéd, or Enhanced Pavéway II laserGPS-guidéd bombs, these áircraft were ultimately nót required in Afghánistan.
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