Eurofighter Tranche 4 instead of the sixth-generation fighter FCAS
Airbus Defence & Space unveiled the new Tranche 4 Eurofighter for Germany. It's truly better than nothing, because "nothing" refers to the failed projects of the New Generation Fighter (NGF) and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, which is based on it—a sixth-generation fighter.
You could say they were “shot down on takeoff,” because things never went beyond drawings and mock-ups; the parties had a falling out on the shore, without entering the water.
The dispute between the three countries stemmed from the French company Dassault's desire to take the lead in the project, a move Germany considers unacceptable, even though most of the development work is indeed French. Therefore, the French hinted that they themselves are capable of completing the project; it's just a matter of time and money.
In addition, France, Germany and Spain encountered difficulties when they tried to agree on the “combat cloud” and systems drones, which are envisaged within the FCAS project. However, the opinion of the junior partner, Spain, was of little concern to anyone here.
The main problem, in my opinion, is that France and Germany need new aircraft for different purposes. These purposes are so different that the French ambitions can be overlooked.
France needs aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads and operating from the decks of French aircraft carriers (yes, they are planning to build another floating Fukushima), while Germany has no aircraft carriers and does not expect to have any in the future, and the Germans have already agreed to buy American F-35s to transport NATO nuclear warheads.
It's fair to say that from the French perspective, the Germans don't look quite right. In principle, if the F-35 met its stated specifications, it could meet all the Luftwaffe's needs, and then there would be no need for FCAS at all. But the problem is that the "penguin" is a very proud bird, and it's difficult to force it to fly and fight effectively.
Therefore, the paths of France and Germany in the field of creating new generation aircraft have diverged, the French have gone their own way, and, considering that they have the Rafale, which will be more functional than the F-35, there is also time to imagine a replacement for it.
But the Germans aren't doing so well. More accurately, they're a complete nightmare in many ways, but especially with their aircraft. The Typhoon can't be called old, although at 23, it doesn't look young either. It's just an airplane, a solid middling performer; it won't knock the stars out of the sky, but it's perfectly capable of pretending to defend its borders.
It's clear that any "thirty-five," whether ours, Chinese, or American, would slice it up in the sky like a Munich sausage, but the Typhoon is more than capable of handling something simpler. The only question is where this "something simpler" will come from in the German skies. The simplest option, excuse me, is the Su-30SM, and that's where all sorts of questions arise... Our big guy is capable of smashing many a face in the sky.
And so, to prove to the world that “we can do it ourselves, forward and upward,” the first German fighter jet, the Eurofighter Tranche 4, was unveiled at the Airbus Defense Summit at the Airbus Defense & Space plant in Manching near Munich.
For now, it's just on display... on the ground. While no Tranche 4 fighter has yet flown, Airbus claims to have already produced several at its Manching plant. Flight testing is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.
A German Eurofighter Tranche 4 fighter jet at the Airbus Defence Summit in Manching.
As part of the Quadriga project, Germany ordered 38 Tranche 4 aircraft in November 2020. They were initially scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2030. Thirty-one of the aircraft will be single-seat, and seven will be two-seat. This order also includes replacements for two fighters lost in accidents.
This is part of a larger program to expand the Luftwaffe's capabilities. While the Tranche 4 fighters are intended to replace the earlier Tranche 1 models, which are much more limited in their capabilities, Berlin also plans to purchase an additional 55 Eurofighters as a partial replacement for the aging Tornado variable-wing fighters. In addition to the 93 Tranche 4 fighters, Germany has ordered a batch of 20 Tranche 5 fighters. The contract for their delivery was signed late last year.
Eurofighter «Typhoon»
Germany's requirement was complicated by the need to replace some of its Tornado nuclear-capable bombers. This led to the decision to purchase 35 F-35As, which can carry B61-12 free-fall nuclear bombs. However, the F-35As will also play a significant role in Germany's expanding conventional long-range strike arsenal, including cruise missiles. missiles Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
Currently, the Luftwaffe has approximately 138 Typhoon fighters in service, including aircraft from the first, second and third modifications.
Although the Eurofighter Tranche 4 looks little different from earlier models (Tranches 1–3) in service with the Luftwaffe, its interior is completely different.
Notably, the Eurofighter Tranche 4 is equipped with the ECRS Mk 1 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, supplied by Hensoldt. The new radar has already been tested on a specially configured Eurofighter testbed and on a modified Airbus A320 testbed, the so-called Advanced Technology Research Aircraft.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) A320 test rig with the radome housing the ECRS Mk 1 radar.
History The development of the European Common Radar System (ECRS) was a long and complex process, involving Leonardo from the UK and Italy, Indra from Spain, and Hensoldt from Germany. Ultimately, three separate active phased array radar designs were developed to meet different requirements and deadlines.
The Eurofighter Common Radar System is on display at the Hensoldt showroom.
Thus, the ECRS Mk 0 system is installed on aircraft for Kuwait and Qatar. Mk 1 is the final standard for Germany and Spain. Tranche 4 aircraft for Germany are delivered with the so-called ECRS Mk 1 Step 0 configuration (essentially Mk 0 with a new antenna). In the second phase of development, from mid-2027, the Quadriga aircraft will be equipped with the Mk 1 Step 1 configuration.
Despite their differences, all of these sensors combine traditional radar functions such as search and targeting with electronic warfare capabilities, which are of increasing interest to Typhoon operators, of which there are a small number worldwide.
Overall, any type of AESA radar offers several important advantages to modern combat aircraft. Unlike traditional mechanically scanned array technology, AESA can acquire and track targets at much greater ranges, faster, and with greater accuracy. This also applies to smaller threats, including those with limited radar signatures, which are much more difficult to detect with older radars. This is especially relevant when countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or cruise missiles.
Thanks to their increased output power, AESA radars also typically provide higher standards of target recognition and multi-target tracking capabilities, as well as greater resistance to hostile jamming. They are also considered significantly more reliable, primarily because they have far fewer moving parts than mechanically scanned arrays.
The long range means that AESA radars are a significant advantage when using long-range air-to-air missiles such as the Meteor carried by the Typhoon.
The Long-Term Evolution (LTE) program, which aims to improve the avionics architecture, is expected to deliver additional enhancements to the Tranche 4 aircraft. This includes the development of a new cockpit with a large display, as well as new onboard computers, communications equipment, and weapons control systems.
However, it remains unclear what exactly Germany will choose from this "menu" of improvements. Different Typhoon customers are choosing different configurations. Specifically, the presented Tranche 4 aircraft still lacks the PIRATE (Passive Infrared Airborne Surveillance and Targeting System): Germany abandoned this important, advanced infrared search and targeting sensor for cost reasons.
In parallel with LTE development, work has been underway for some time on a large multi-function display for the Typhoon. The large 12 x 22-inch multi-function display will replace the three previous-generation 6 x 6-inch multi-function displays (MHDDs) and allow pilots to better process large volumes of information. This is particularly useful when using active phased array radars, as well as, for example, when manned and unmanned aircraft are used together.
A mockup of BAE Systems' wide-format display for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Photo by BAE Systems
A plan to convert 15 existing Typhoons into electronic warfare aircraft, separate from the Quadriga project but no less important for the Luftwaffe, is as follows: the EK version of the Typhoon will be fitted with Saab's Arexis electronic warfare system and will be able to use the advanced AGM-88E radiation-guided anti-radar missile to suppress and destroy enemy air defences.
The EK Typhoon will replace Germany's Tornado ECR fighter-bombers, which have served in this role since the 1990s, and will significantly expand the Luftwaffe's capabilities.
A Tornado ECR takes off during Exercise Red Flag 20-2 at Nellis Air Force Base northeast of Las Vegas, USA.
At one stage it seemed that after 2040, when the FCAS system was expected to come into operation and replace these combat aircraft with a new "system of systems" including the NGF manned fighter, the Typhoon's role in the Luftwaffe would begin to decline.
However, disagreements have arisen between the two main partners in the FCAS program—France and Germany. German Defense Ministry officials are apparently unhappy with France's disproportionate stake in the program and are reportedly considering other options, including separating the program from France. France, as noted above, believes it can handle the situation on its own.
Whatever happens with FCAS, the chances of a sixth-generation manned fighter entering service on schedule are becoming increasingly slim, if not impossible.
Thus, the Typhoon becomes an even more important and long-lasting asset for the Luftwaffe. In the future, it will almost certainly be used alongside the "loyal wingman" drones, which occupy a prominent place in Germany's military plans, assuming, of course, that program is realized.
Among the contenders to meet this requirement, which calls for a system to be introduced by around 2030, is the XQ-58A Valkyrie stealth drone, which Airbus and Kratos are offering to Germany. Meanwhile, Airbus is working on its own stealth concept, known as Wingman. And Boeing Australia has teamed up with Rheinmetall, a major manufacturer. weapons in Germany to offer the German military the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone.
Everything really got mixed up in the Oblonskys’ house…
Last year, another potential contender for the role of tanker aircraft for the Luftwaffe emerged: German defense startup Helsing unveiled its CA-1 Europa aircraft.
CA-1 Europa: Autonomous Air Superiority
The increased investment in the Luftwaffe marks a significant shift in the priorities of the German armed forces, which are now increasingly focused on a potential future conflict with Russia.
The German Armed Forces are currently undergoing their most extensive transformation since the Cold War. A major effort is underway to transform the German army from a low-readiness expeditionary force into a high-readiness territorial force focused on operations on NATO's eastern flank. At the same time, long-range strike capabilities, neglected since the Cold War, have suddenly become a major concern.
Berlin understands the importance of investing in new equipment, and today's presentation of the Eurofighter Tranche 4 fighter jet in Bavaria is a clear demonstration of this trend.
How much of a twenty-year-old fighter can compete with and be a worthy adversary for the Russian Su-57 and Su-35 is a question worth billions. That's the billions Germany is willing to invest in upgrading the aging fighter.
If Germany is serious about going to war with Russia, and judging by the press, that's precisely the case, then the Luftwaffe must at the very least possess weapons capable of countering the Russian Aerospace Forces. Whether upgrading an aircraft that's over 20 years old can improve the current situation will be determined by a question that will determine Germany's fate in every sense. Overall, the picture isn't very encouraging for the Germans, no matter how much they'd like to be assured that the modernized Typhoon will be a worthy opponent to modern Russian aircraft.
Information