전투기 스페인과 이탈리아, 각각 타이푼 25대와 24대 추가 구매

[위종민]

스페인이 12월 20일 타이푼 25대를, 이탈리아가 12월 23일 타이푼 24대를 추가 구매하네요. 

스페인은 호넷을, 이탈리아는 타이푼 트렌치 1 기체들을 대체할 예정입니다. 스페인 주문분은 마드리드 인근 헤타페의 에어버스 공장에서, 이탈리아 주문분은 토리노의 레오나르도 공장에서 생산되네요.  

최소 2030년까지는 타이푼 생산이 계속될 예정이고, 트렌치 5 출시시 그 이후로도 생산이 계속될 수 있다고 합니다. 영국이 트렌치 1 기체를 4대만 제외하고 퇴역시킬 예정인데, 이탈리아도 트렌치 1 퇴역 대열에 합류하네요. 

Spain Orders 25 Additional Eurofighter Jets - The Aviationist

Spain Orders 25 Additional Eurofighter Jets

Spain Orders 25 Additional Eurofighter Jets

Published on: December 20, 2024 at 1:21 PM

Follow Us On Google News

 David Cenciotti

Rendering of a Halcon Eurofighter. (Image credit: Airbus)

SHARE

The order will bring the Spanish Air Force Eurofighter fleet to 115 aircraft.

The Spanish government has finalized a deal with the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA), based in Munich, Germany, to purchase 25 Eurofighter jets as part of the Halcon II program. This new order, which was anticipated months ago, includes 21 single-seat and four twin-seat aircraft, which will replace part of the Spanish Air and Space Force’s aging F-18 legacy Hornet fleet, based at Torrejon and Zaragoza.

Contents

The order will bring the Spanish Air Force Eurofighter fleet to 115 aircraft.Export opportunities

Building on a prior 2022 Halcon contract for 20 Eurofighters, signed at ILA airshow in Berlin in June 2022, this agreement will bring Spain’s fleet to a total of 115 aircraft. The aircraft are set for delivery starting in 2030. The additional Eurofighters are said to enhance Spain’s air combat capabilities, strengthen its leadership role in NATO, and ensure continued support for the Eurofighter’s industrial base in Europe.

“The Eurofighter is Europe’s leading fighter jet, combining advanced technology and proven success in air superiority. It’s a testament to international cooperation and shows how Europe can collaborate on defense. We deeply appreciate the Spanish government’s trust in the Eurofighter and Airbus Defence and Space. This order isn’t just vital for defense; it also supports the European and Spanish supply chains,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.

Spain’s Eurofighters are built, tested, and delivered from Airbus’ facility in Getafe, near Madrid, with the program supporting over 16,000 jobs across Spain. The project involves several key Spanish defense and technology companies in the production process.

The acquisition, approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers in September 2023, and including the aircraft, engines, and essential support services, adds to the momentum building around the Eurofighter program, which is gearing up for more contracts in the near future.

Two Spanish Air Force Eurofighters (Image credit: Airbus)

Alongside Spain’s announcement, new orders are expected from Italy and Germany, as well as potential export deals, which could expand the Eurofighter’s order book by 100 to 200 aircraft over the next decade.

Giancarlo Mezzanatto, Eurofighter’s Chief Executive, commented:

“Spain’s decision to order 25 more Eurofighter jets is a milestone in what we see as a ‘renaissance’ period for the program that will carry on well into the 2030s.

“This shows Spain’s deep commitment as one of the four founding Eurofighter nations. We’re proud to see Eurofighter remain Europe’s largest defense program and a standout example of successful international collaboration in defense.

“Beyond enhancing Europe’s security, this new order brings significant economic benefits to our core nations and Europe at large. With its advanced technology and a lifespan extending past 2060, Eurofighter will integrate seamlessly into Europe’s next-gen air combat systems.”

As already explained, under the Halcon II deal, 25 Eurofighter jets (21 single-seaters and four twin-seaters) will be delivered to Spain between 2030 and 2035, ensuring industrial activity continues at least through 2035.

AVM Simon Ellard (ret.), NETMA’s General Manager, said:

“Halcon II marks a significant milestone and highlights Spain’s strong commitment to the Eurofighter program.

These additional jets will not only strengthen Spain’s defense capabilities but also provide major industrial and economic benefits for Spain, the Core Nations, and Europe as a whole.

More from The Aviationist

Military Aviation

U.S. A-10s Integrate with Philippine A-29B Super Tucanos in Dynamic Force Employment, CAS Exercise

China

U.S. and Japanese Air Forces Hold Bilateral Exercise Over Sea of Japan with B-52, F-15Js, F-35As and F-22s

Military Aviation

Airbus Unveils A320 Flying Testbed with New Nose for ECRS Mk.1 Radar Testing

Aviation Safety

[Updated] U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down in Friendly Fire Over Red Sea

Drones

BAE Systems Tests Unique ‘Tilt Body’ STRIX VTOL UAS in Australia

Military Aviation

U.S. A-10s Integrate with Philippine A-29B Super Tucanos in Dynamic Force Employment, CAS Exercise

China

U.S. and Japanese Air Forces Hold Bilateral Exercise Over Sea of Japan with B-52, F-15Js, F-35As and F-22s

Military Aviation

Airbus Unveils A320 Flying Testbed with New Nose for ECRS Mk.1 Radar Testing

Aviation Safety

[Updated] U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down in Friendly Fire Over Red Sea

Drones

BAE Systems Tests Unique ‘Tilt Body’ STRIX VTOL UAS in Australia

Military Aviation

U.S. A-10s Integrate with Philippine A-29B Super Tucanos in Dynamic Force Employment, CAS Exercise

China

U.S. and Japanese Air Forces Hold Bilateral Exercise Over Sea of Japan with B-52, F-15Js, F-35As and F-22s

Military Aviation

Airbus Unveils A320 Flying Testbed with New Nose for ECRS Mk.1 Radar Testing

“The Eurofighter remains at the heart of Europe’s air defense. The Halcon II program, alongside upcoming deals from Italy and Germany, ensures the program’s bright future for decades to come.”

Spain’s new Typhoons will feature cutting-edge technology, including electronically scanned radar (E-Scan), upgraded avionics, advanced weapons like the Brimstone III and Meteor missiles, and improved sensors and connectivity. Noteworthy, recently, the first test flight of the new E-Scan radar took place aboard a Spanish Air Force Typhoon, tail number C.16-70 and registration 14-28 at Getafe Air Base, Spain, one of the largest Spanish Air Force air bases and home of Airbus Spain’s facilities.

Infographic Eurofighter Halcón II

From an industrial point of view, the Eurofighter program supports over 100,000 jobs across 400 companies in Europe, “cementing its role as Europe’s largest defense initiative and a cornerstone of the continent’s security and industrial base.”

A PwC report from earlier this year analyzed the program’s development, production, and support activities across the four core Eurofighter nations.

In its “growth scenario,” which includes domestic and export opportunities, the report highlighted the program’s extensive economic impact on Europe. Over the next decade, Eurofighter is expected to contribute €90 billion to Europe’s GDP, generate €22 billion in tax revenues, and sustain nearly 98,000 jobs annually.

Export opportunities

As for the export opportunities, after Germany removed the veto, Saudi Arabia could get 48 new Typhoons to increase its 70-aircraft strong fleet. Eurofighter is also in talks with Poland, which is looking to acquire one or two full squadrons, which equates to 16 or 32 aircraft.

Turkey also expressed interest in acquiring Typhoons: Ankara had long sought 40 Eurofighter Typhoons after it was expelled from the F-35 program in 2020 under the Countering America’s Adversary’s Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system. As The Aviationist reported, defense minister Güler told the Planning and Budget Committee late in November that the United States expressed willingness to deliver the six F-35s already built and stored, after seeing Ankara’s progress with the KAAN fighter. Turkey has also reapplied to be admitted back into the F-35 program. Anyway, on Dec. 18, 2024, two Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon FGR4 aircraft landed at the Türk Hava Kuvvetleri’s (Turkish Air Force) Mürted Air Base in Ankara, at the presence of top British and Turkish defense officials, for a visit aimed at allowing the Turkish officials to get a closer look at the multirole fighter.

For the past year, there have been ongoing reports about Turkey holding discussions with German and British defense and diplomatic officials regarding the potential sale of Eurofighter Typhoons to Ankara. These talks seemed to have received tentative approvals in principle. Neither Berlin nor London confirmed the reports, but they didn’t outright deny them either.

“After Turkey was removed from the F-35 program, it began exploring other options to meet its need for advanced fighter jets. The Eurofighter Typhoon stood out as a strong candidate thanks to its cutting-edge radar and combat systems,” SavunmaTR reported.

Turkish defense experts believe Ankara is eyeing the Tranche 4 or Tranche 5 version of the Typhoon, similar to those used by European nations. These jets might also come with upgrades from the broader Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) package, which includes the European Common Radar System (ECRS) AESA radar, the updated Praetorian Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS), and the Pirate Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) system.

There have also been rumors about a potential Eurofighter sale to Egypt, but no concrete opportunity has emerged so far.

From left to right: Giancarlo Mezzanatto CEO Eurofighter, Simon Ellard CB FREng General Manager NETMA & Ralf Breiling CEO EUROJET.

Italy Orders New Batch Of Up To 24 Eurofighter Typhoons - The Aviationist

Italy Orders New Batch Of Up To 24 Eurofighter Typhoons

Published on: December 23, 2024 at 9:45 PM

Follow Us On Google News

 Kai Greet

Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon taking off from RAF Waddington during Exercise Cobra Warrior in 2019. (Image credit: Sgt Nik Howe/Crown Copyright)

SHARE

Fresh on the heels of Spain’s order for 25 new Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, Italy has now signed a contract for 24 jets to replace earlier Tranche 1 airframes.

The long rumored, and now confirmed, order for new jets comes after the Italian Ministry of Defense officially requested governmental approval for the procurement in July of this year. It is the second order this week for the Eurofighter consortium, who concluded a deal with the Spanish Air Force for 25 Typhoons to replace older EF-18 Hornet aircraft.

Contents

Fresh on the heels of Spain’s order for 25 new Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, Italy has now signed a contract for 24 jets to replace earlier Tranche 1 airframes.Preparing for the Future

Replacing Tranche 1 aircraft, which have been in service with the Italian Air Force since the type’s introduction in the early 2000s, the new airframes will be delivered with significant new technologies which are incompatible with or uneconomical to integrate onto older aircraft.

BREAKING: Italy orders up to 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets 🇮🇹m
This major milestone follows last week’s Spanish order for 25 aircraft, reinforcing Eurofighter’s role in modernising European air defence. ✈️

CEO Giancarlo Mezzanatto said two Core Nations placing new orders in one… pic.twitter.com/MfFrEeHYgL

— Eurofighter Typhoon (@eurofighter) December 23, 2024

In Italian service the Typhoon is designated F-2000A, with twin seaters known as TF-2000As, but the Typhoon nomenclature is routinely used in service and even in official Italian Air Force communications.

The new orders, like Italy’s present aircraft, will be assembled at the Leonardo production facility in Turin, Italy. Parts for each airframe will be produced by individual manufacturers across Europe.

Have you ever wondered how a #Eurofighter is built? It takes a total of 14 steps to finish a #EurofighterTyphoon. The Eurofighter is European through and through with different parts coming from the partner companies that make up the so called Eurofighter consortium: Airbus in… pic.twitter.com/BBBHsRe1c5

— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) December 27, 2023

Italy currently operates Typhoons from Tranches 1, 2 and 3, and will be the fourth nation to order airframes from Tranche 4 or above. All core nations that form the Eurofighter consortium have placed orders for new aircraft except the United Kingdom. Germany’s recent procurement proposals have referred to a Tranche 5, more details of which will likely be revealed in the coming years. Tranche 4 deliveries are presently expected to continue until 2030.

The exact configuration of the new Italian aircraft is still currently unknown, but will likely include the new European Common Radar System (ECRS). This Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, also known as Captor-E, replaces the mechanically scanned Captor-M pulse doppler radar presently fitted to most operational aircraft. Additional upgrades being developed for newly produced Typhoons under the Phase 4 Enhancement program include increased electronic warfare capabilities, an improved defensive aids sub-system (DASS), and automated sensor management.

More from The Aviationist

Military History

35 Years Later, Retired AC-130H Spectre Crews Recount the Action from 1989’s ‘Operation Just Cause’ in Panama

Drones

BAE Systems Tests Unique ‘Tilt Body’ STRIX VTOL UAS in Australia

Military Aviation

U.S. A-10s Integrate with Philippine A-29B Super Tucanos in Dynamic Force Employment, CAS Exercise

China

U.S. and Japanese Air Forces Hold Bilateral Exercise Over Sea of Japan with B-52, F-15Js, F-35As and F-22s

Military Aviation

Italy Orders New Batch Of Up To 24 Eurofighter Typhoons

Military History

35 Years Later, Retired AC-130H Spectre Crews Recount the Action from 1989’s ‘Operation Just Cause’ in Panama

Drones

BAE Systems Tests Unique ‘Tilt Body’ STRIX VTOL UAS in Australia

Military Aviation

U.S. A-10s Integrate with Philippine A-29B Super Tucanos in Dynamic Force Employment, CAS Exercise

China

U.S. and Japanese Air Forces Hold Bilateral Exercise Over Sea of Japan with B-52, F-15Js, F-35As and F-22s

Military Aviation

Italy Orders New Batch Of Up To 24 Eurofighter Typhoons

Military History

35 Years Later, Retired AC-130H Spectre Crews Recount the Action from 1989’s ‘Operation Just Cause’ in Panama

Drones

BAE Systems Tests Unique ‘Tilt Body’ STRIX VTOL UAS in Australia

Military Aviation

U.S. A-10s Integrate with Philippine A-29B Super Tucanos in Dynamic Force Employment, CAS Exercise

From new, the latest Typhoons will be compatible with modern munitions and sensors such as the MBDA Meteor, Brimstone III, and the Rafael Litening V pod. Incompatibility with these new capabilities is a major factor driving forward the retirement of Tranche 1 jets.

An Italian Air Force Typhoon firing an MBDA Meteor air to air missile during live fire testing off the UK coast. (Image credit: Italian Air Force)

The Chief Executive of the Eurofighter consortium, Giancarlo Mezzanatto, says that the order demonstrates the “strength and importance that Eurofighter Typhoon brings to Europe”.

Air Vice-Marshal Simon Ellard (ret), who currently oversees the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, added that “The order, which follows the contract for 25 additional jets for the Spanish Air Force signed on the 20th of December, demonstrates that the Eurofighter Typhoon continues to be the backbone of European air defence.”

Alongside the aforementioned order for 25 new aircraft for the Spanish Air Force, a significant amount of orders have also been placed by the German Air Force. A total of 58 additional airframes are due for delivery over the coming years, which will extend Germany’s status as the largest Typhoon operator. A total of 201 Typhoons have been ordered by Germany to date, with the United Kingdom in second place with 160 orders.

The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force received its last Typhoon delivery in 2019 and, despite strong encouragement for new batches of airframes, has yet to place any orders beyond Tranche 3. Most of the force’s 30 remaining Tranche 1 airframes will be retired on Mar. 31, 2025 without direct replacement.

Four Tranche 1 aircraft will remain in RAF service for some time with 1435 Flight, based at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands, who recently completed an airframe swap. Three aircraft (ZJ926, ZJ933, ZJ941) returned from the detachment and flew directly into BAE Warton for ‘reduce to produce’ (RTP), meaning the aircraft will serve as donors for spare parts. They were replaced by three Tranche 1 aircraft (ZJ920, ZJ928, ZJ942) from RAF Lossiemouth, joining ZJ915 which has been ‘down south’ since 2015.

Preparing for the Future

The Eurofighter Typhoon’s lifespan is currently expected to stretch as far as 2060. A desire to maintain production capabilities continuously has influenced many recent orders for the type by consortium partners. Order books as they stand today will see production continue until at least 2030. Follow-on orders for subsequent Tranche 5 aircraft, or even new variants such as the Eurofighter EK, are hoped to extend demand beyond this date.

As two of the three main partners in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), also known as Tempest, Italy and the United Kingdom see their long term ambitions with the notionally sixth gen aircraft. Germany and Spain intend to join with France to produce a competitor airframe under the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, but all evidence so far points to the development of this concept being far behind GCAP.

Shots fired towards #FCAS/#SCAF today from BAE Systems on call to discuss new #GCAP joint venture, with official positing, “Hopefully you will agree with me that the GCAP programme is the only credible sixth-generation programme out there, outside Russia, China and the US.” pic.twitter.com/st1QEOjB0l

— Gareth Jennings (@GarethJennings3) December 13, 2024

Looking with the future, and GCAP, in mind, Italy and the United Kingdom signed an implementation agreement in Jan. 2024 to allow for increased inter-operation between the Italian Air Force and Royal Air Force. Engineers from each force will be permitted to perform some degree of maintenance on each others’ aircraft. Both nations operate the Eurofighter Typhoon as well as the F-35B Lightning II. The agreement is intended to eventually extend to the GCAP airframe when it enters operational service.

Italy Orders New Batch Of Up To 24 Eurofighter Typhoons

[백선호]

트랜치 1과 4의 차이는 생긴 것은 거의 똑같아도 1은 Windows XP를 쓰고 4는 Windows 11을 쓰는 정도의 차이가 아닐까 싶네요. 트랜치 1에서는 최신 애플리케이션을 깔아 쓰고 싶어도 못쓰는...

[위종민]

개조하려니 영국 사례처럼 비행시간 많아져서 기골이 걸레짝이 됐을 수도 있겠네요.

ECR-90은 해리어 FA2에 달린 블루빅센 기반이었네요. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euroradar_CAPTOR#Early_development )