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Introduction: The Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 is a remarkable aircraft that forms the backbone of the Royal Airforce’s combat aircraft fleet, offering a wide range of capabilities in an agile, extremely modern platform, which is able to change from attacking ground to air targets and vice versa at the flick of a switch.
Description: The Typhoon was primarily designed from the outset as a highly manoeuvrable, agile, air superiority fighter, armed with the latest weapons systems available, combined with a high power-to-weight ratio. This is in addition to containing some of the most advanced sensor systems ever fielded in order to improve survivability, as well as offensive capabilities. However, it was always envisaged that at some point, the aircraft would be a multirole type, as that was the trend the world of fast jets was taking. Initial test and service aircraft were pure fighters, as was shown with DA2 and the F.2, being unable to carry or having limited air-to-ground ordnance. However, some test aircraft such as DA7 and IPA5 were tasked with evaluating possible weapons stores and integrations with the aircraft. With the retirement of the Harriers and Jaguars, and the retirement of the Tornados rapidly approaching, it was necessary for the RAF to equip its Typhoons with air-to-ground ordnance in order to replace the capabilities, as well as improve its air-to-air capabilities with new weapons. The Typhoon FGR.4 appeared from 2008 onwards, with these aircraft being upgraded F.2s, capable of carrying more ordnance, with new deliveries complementing these as well. These aircraft were given the Litening III targeting pod, and the Paveway II guided bombs. The overall capabilities of the aircraft were further improved under Project Centurion, in which the overall capabilities of the Tornado GR.4 were transplanted onto the Typhoon FGR.4, giving it Storm Shadow and Brimstone capabilities. The aircraft was also given the Meteor BVRAAM in order to improve air-to-air capabilities. From 2016, the Typhoon began testing the SPEAR 3, with integration set to around 2024. On the 27th September, 2019, the RAF received ZK437, the last Typhoon to be delivered to the service. In the upcoming years, the FGR.4s will be upgraded with new radar and weapons systems in order to keep the type at the cutting edge.
Service: The aircraft had been given their initial ground attack capabilities in anticipation of a deployment to Afghanistan, though this never materialised. In 2009, Typhoons were sent to replace the Tornado F.3s of No.1435 Flight based out of RAF Mount Pleasant on the Falklands. The Typhoon first saw action in 2011 during Operation Ellamy, the UK involvement in the conflict in Libya, in which they escorted Tornados, provided cover for friendly aircraft, and dropped bombs on both stationary and moving targets. In 2015, Typhoons were temporarily deployed to Malta in order to ensure the security of the Commonwealth Heads of Government which occurred there that year. That same year, Typhoons were also sent to RAF Akrotiri in order to partake in Operation Shader, the UK commitment to defeating Daesh, operations of which are still being carried out. In 2016, Typhoons were sent to Japan in order to take part in bilateral exercises, the first of their kind. Various squadrons operating the aircraft have been deployed to the Baltic Air Patrol under Operation Azotize, in order to make sure the airspace of the Baltic countries is safe and secure, and to verify that intruding Russian aircraft obey international conventions and do not pose threats to both military and civil aviation in the region. Typhoons have also been deployed to Iceland and Romania to perform similar roles. In 2021, a Typhoon used an ASRAAM to down a hostile drone, likely of terrorist origin, making it the first British air-to-air victory in 40 years, since the Falklands, and the first in over 70 for the RAF. Finally, in 2022, a Typhoon successfully hit the ex-USS Boone during an Atlantic Thunder SINKEX mission, making it the first RAF Typhoon to strike a naval target with live ordnance.
Performance:
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Armament:
• 1 x BK27 Mauser Cannon
• 2-6 x ASRAAM(With TMC)
• 4-6 x Meteor/AMRAAM
• 8 x Paveway 4
• 6 x Enhanced Paveway 2/3
• 12 x Brimstone 2
• 12 x Spear 3
• 12 x Spear-EW
• 3 x Storm Shadow
• 2 x ALARM
• Litening 3/5 Targetting Pod
• 6 x BL755
Specification:
• Crew: 1 or 2
• Length: 15.96 m (52 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 10.95 m (35 ft 11 in)
• Height: 5.28 m (17 ft 4 in)
• Wing area: 51.2 m2 (551 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
• Gross weight: 16,000 kg (35,274 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 23,500 kg (51,809 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 4,996 kg (11,010 lb) / 6,215 L (1,642 US gal; 1,367 imp gal) internal
• Powerplant: 2 × Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, 60 kN (13,000 lbf) thrust each dry, 90 kN (20,000 lbf) with afterburner
• Maximum AOA: >25°
• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0+ (2,495 km/h) - 1,530 km/h (950 mph; 830 kn) / Mach 1.25 at sea level
• Supercruise: Mach 1.5
• Range: 2,900 km (1,800 mi, 1,600 nmi)
• Combat range: 1,389 km (863 mi, 750 nmi) Air defence with 10-min. loiter / Ground attack, hi-lo-hi (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
185 km (100 nmi) Air defence with 3-hr combat air patrol (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
601 km (325 nmi) Ground attack, lo-lo-lo (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
• Ferry range: 3,790 km (2,350 mi, 2,050 nmi) with 3 × drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 19,812 m (65,000 ft)
• G limits: +9 / -3
• Rate of climb: 315 m/s (62,000 ft/min) - 150 m/s average to 9000m(30,000ft)
• Acceleration: Mach 0.3 → Mach 1 in 30s.
• Wing loading: 312 kg/m2 (64 lb/sq ft)
• Thrust/weight: 1.15 (interceptor configuration)
Conclusion: Overall, the Typhoon FGR.4 would bring a huge number of advanced capabilities to the game, that would easily make it a potent aircraft, and would likely make it one of the best aircraft in game. When the time is right, which may be sooner than many of us think, we may soon be able to fly this wonderful aircraft in game.
Sources:
Spoiler
https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/typhoon-fgr4/
The Aircraft | Eurofighter Typhoon
Royal Air Force - RAF Aircraft - Typhoon FGR4 - Eurofighter - r7a8 - Armed Forces
Eurofighter Typhoon - BCAR.org.uk
Spear air-to-surface missile tested by Typhoon - UPI.com
https://www.forces.net/news/first-air-air-engagement-raf-typhoon-carried-out-syria
UK launches P3Ec enhancement package for Typhoon
“Typhoon to Typhoon: RAF Air Support Projects and Weapons Since 1945” by Chris Gibson
https://www.v1images.com/product/united-kingdom-royal-air-force-raf-eurofighter-typhoon-fgr-4-zk344/
RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 | RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 … | Flickr
File:Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 MOD 45160575.jpg - Wikipedia
