The Eurofighter Typhoon enhancement programme is at the heart of the plan to ensure the RAF's fighter jet capability remains at the cutting-edge of tactical ops. Alan Warnes examines the state of play and talks to the key personnel involved
It is 18 months since the roadmap for the UK’s defence capability – and the associated promise to grow the RAF’s combat air capacity – was published in the government’s Integrated Defence Review. It would mean that all seven operational Typhoon squadrons, based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, would be grown in capabilities alongside an expanding F-35 Lightning Force. Together they would provide a formidable force to meet Russia and Chinese threats while exploiting multi-domain integration. So how is the plan progressing?
Spiralling the development of the RAF’s Typhoon capability is a top priority that needs the necessary investment to allow the integration of new weapons, such as the SPEAR (Select Precision Effects At Range) Capability 3 precision air-launched weapon and a new cutting-edge electronically scanned array radar, ECRS (European Common Radar Standard) Mk 2. Integrating the combat capabilities of both the
