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United Kingdom / Germany / Italy / Spain · Active and in production

Eurofighter Typhoon

4.5-generation multirole fighter

A highly agile twin-engine canard-delta fighter developed jointly by the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain for air superiority and multirole strike missions.

Introduced2003
SpeedMach 2.0+
RangeApproximately 3,790 km ferry
Crew1–2
Platform profile

Technical overview

Manufacturer
Eurofighter GmbH (Airbus, BAE Systems & Leonardo)
Primary role
4.5-generation multirole fighter
Dimensions
15.96 m length · 10.95 m span
Operators
United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar
Variants
Single-seat fighter · Twin-seat trainer · Tranches 1–4
Operational status
Active and in production
Complete platform dossier

Eurofighter Typhoon details

Identity

Full name
Eurofighter Typhoon
Type
4.5-generation multirole fighter
Manufacturer
Eurofighter GmbH (Airbus, BAE Systems & Leonardo)
Countries of origin
United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain
First flight
27 March 1994
Entered service
2003
Primary operators
Royal Air Force, German Air Force, Italian Air Force and Spanish Air Force
Crew
1 pilot in operational single-seat variants; 2 crew in trainer variants

Primary roles

  • Air superiority
  • Multirole strike
  • Air defence
  • Ground attack
  • Close air support (CAS)
  • Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD)
  • Reconnaissance

Variants

Single-seat fighter
Primary operational air-defence and multirole configuration
Twin-seat trainer
Two-crew conversion and training configuration with combat capability
Production standards
Progressively upgraded through Tranches 1, 2, 3 and 4

Performance

Maximum speed
Mach 2.0+ (approximately 2,495 km/h)
Supercruise
Approximately Mach 1.3–1.5 without afterburner
Combat radius
Approximately 1,390 km
Ferry range
Approximately 3,790 km with external fuel tanks
Service ceiling
55,000 ft (16,800 m)
Maximum G-force
+9 G

Engine

  • 2 × Eurojet EJ200 turbofan engines
  • Approximately 90 kN (20,000 lbf) thrust per engine with afterburner
  • High thrust-to-weight ratio
  • Designed for excellent acceleration and reliability

Stealth features

  • Reduced radar cross-section (RCS)
  • Extensive use of composite materials
  • Advanced electronic warfare systems improve survivability
  • Not a full low-observable aircraft like the F-22 or F-35

Avionics

  • Captor-E AESA radar on the latest variants
  • PIRATE Infrared Search and Track (IRST)
  • Advanced sensor fusion
  • Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS)
  • Helmet-Mounted Symbology System (HMSS)
  • Secure NATO data links

Armament

Internal gun
1 × 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon with 150 rounds
Air-to-air missiles
AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, IRIS-T and Meteor
Air-to-ground weapons
Paveway II/III/IV, Brimstone, Storm Shadow, Taurus KEPD 350 and JDAM
Anti-ship weapons
Marte ER, with additional anti-ship integrations planned

Payload

Hardpoints
13
Maximum external payload
7.5 tonnes
Maximum takeoff weight
23.5 tonnes

Strengths

  • Outstanding air-to-air combat performance
  • Excellent acceleration and climb rate
  • Supercruise capability
  • Highly agile canard-delta wing design
  • Advanced DASS electronic warfare system
  • Compatible with the long-range Meteor missile
  • Continuously upgraded with new avionics and weapons

Limitations

  • Not a fifth-generation stealth aircraft
  • High acquisition and operating costs
  • Smaller strike payload than some larger fighters such as the F-15EX
  • External weapon carriage increases radar visibility during many missions

Operators and customers

United KingdomGermanyItalySpainAustriaSaudi ArabiaOmanKuwaitQatar

Production and export outlook

Production status
Remains in production with continuing upgrades and export campaigns
Prospective operators
Several countries continue evaluating or ordering upgraded Typhoon variants
Poland
Selected the F-35 rather than the Typhoon

Interesting facts

  1. Developed jointly by four European nations as one of history’s largest multinational fighter programmes.
  2. Can transition between air-to-air combat and ground attack during the same mission.
  3. Captor-E provides a wide field of regard through a repositionable antenna.
  4. Regularly performs NATO Quick Reaction Alert missions to intercept unidentified aircraft near allied airspace.