Cassidian has successfully completed flight testing of the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft’s phase 1 enhancements (P1E) programme at its Military Air Systems Centers in Manching, Germany and in Getafe, Spain.
Jointly carried out with BAE Systems and Alenia Aermacchi on the instrumented production aircraft (IPA) 4 and 7, the intensive test programme confirmed that the enhancement is capable of delivering a robust simultaneous multi-/swing-role capability to the member air forces.
Cassidians Eurofighter Project pilot Chris Worning said the Phase 1 enhancements will provide a significant leap in Eurofighter’s operational capabilities.
"Deploying multiple weapons with attack constraints simultaneously in all weather has never been easier," Worning said.
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Pursued with funding of £458m from the UK, Spain, Italy and Germany, the P1E programme includes the installation of a broad spectrum of enhancements, including air-to-surface and air-to-air systems to boost the Typhoon’s capabilities.
The air-to-surface systems include full smart bomb integration, modern secure identification friend-or-foe (IFF), as well as improved radios and direct voice input systems.
Air-to-air capabilities involve digital integration of short range air-to-air missiles and enhanced multifunctional information distribution system (MIDS)/ Link 16 functionality, to help increase interoperability with coalition forces.
Representing a significant milestone in the Typhoon development, the P1E programme offers seamless air-to-ground integration to the weapon system, while forming the baseline for further improvements, including active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and Meteor missile integration.
The enhancement is scheduled to be handed over to the partner air forces as a new software release in late-2013.
Manufactured by a consortium of EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE, the Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole fighter designed for deployment during air operations, including air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict missions worldwide.
Image: The IPA7 Typhoon fighter flying over Cassidian’s Military Air Systems Center in Manching, Germany. Photo: courtesy of Josef Gietl, Cassidian.
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