I would personally not put that much emphasis on the soft update.
yeah that isnt the issue, the issue is the picture beneath, a2a IRIST but it has an uplink so basically atleast one way DL, from what i can gather
this also isnt a typo since the german version of the website says the same
The question: Is a simple antenna which only receives a possible abort-signal a “datalink”? At best it would be a one-way datalink (platform → missile) for a single simple command (self-destruct). There exist also one-way datalinks on other missiles which are missile → platform.
You can read it man…
Also missile - > platform is called downlink
yes IRIS-T has a Datalink
Since Tranch 5 is not yet in service i will throw this in here for the time being feel free to add share more info or correct me if i made a mistake.
German Tranch 5:
On the 15 of October 2025 Germany order 20 new Eurofighters to strengthen thier defence capabilities. Under the contract, Airbus will produce the multi-role combat aircraft at its final assembly line in Manching, near Munich in Germany. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery to the German Air Force in 2031, the last in 2034. Tranche 5 is met to receive top of the line upgrades by the time it will get delivered, meaning it will come equipped with all Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) upgrades, such as the new Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK), ECRS MK.1 Step 1-2, new upgrades for the self protection systems resembled within the new EuroDASS Praetorian Evolution (Praetorian Evo), and last but not least it will mostly come with the new Large Area Display (LAD) along side Striker II helmet and lastly new weapons integration.
breaking down the new capabilities
click me
- ECRS MK.1 Step 2: the T5 will come equipped with the new AESA multi-channel technology based ECRS MK.1 radar developed by both of Hensoldt and Indra, the radar is going to utilities the GaN T/R modules, making the radar produce more energy and have less noise while offering ±90 field of view. The Step 2 will bring further software upgrades will evolve the Mk1 radar into a full multi-role radar including upgrades to the air-to-ground and electronic warfare tasks. Those will also enable task-based operation to reduce pilot workload whilst improving system performance.
- Aerodynamics Modification Kit (AMK): One of the most important upgrades that is going to be on the T5 is the AMK it’s represented by the addition of an extended fuselage strakes, Leading Edge Root Extensions (LERX), and enlarged flaperons this kit generates the huge improvement in stability, maneuverability, agility, lift, and ofc the payload weight that can be carried. Flight trials have demonstrated substantial performance gains, AMk increased maximum wing lift by 25 percent, increased roll rate by 100% and increased angle-of-attack (AOA) values of up to 45%.
The AMK is further explained by @MythicPi in here Eurofighter Typhoon (UK versions) - Technical data and discussion (Part 2) - #4261 by MythicPi
- EuroDASS Praetorian Evolution (Praetorian Evo) and the new larger CMs dispenser: the new Praetorian Evo will provide faster reaction time against evolving threats and with the new software upgrades to include newly updated attack and defence capabilities against electronic warfare boosting the ECM capabilities of the T5, In addition to the automated sensor management capability, P4E will introduce DASS (Defensive Aids Sub-System) upgrades for all customers and includes the German IOC (Initial Operating Capability) additional electronic warfare capability. Most likely the German Eurofighters will come with the absent of the LWR, and they will come equipped with the state of the art SAAB-Arixes EW bods replacing both of the standard ECM EuroDASS bod and the Decoy bod. The new CMs dispenser will also increase the number of counter measures of the Eurofighter effectively boosting it’s survivability, special thanks to @Gunjob for providing this information.
- And lastly the new Larger area display (LAD) and Striker II helmet: not fully confirmed yet since the LAD is still in development but the T5 will most likely come equipped with it along side the pilot being equipped with the newly developed Striker II helmet to give the pilot better view over the battle field while reducing the working load on the pilot by fast processing the information then displaying it for the pilot, after collecting info by means of sensor fusion for easier data reading and identification.
Specifications, performance and armament
Spoiler
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 15.96 m
Wingspan: 10.95 m
Height: 5.28 m
Wing area: 51.2 m2
Empty weight: 11,000 kg
Gross weight: 16,000 kg
Max takeoff weight: 23,500 kg
Fuel capacity: 4,996 kg / 6,215 L internal
Powerplant: 2 × Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, 60 kN thrust each dry, 90 kN with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed: 2,500 km/h at 11 km altitude — or Mach 2.35
1,530 km/h (950 mph; 830 kn) at sea level — or Mach 1.25
Supercruise: Mach 1.5
Range: 2,900 km
Service ceiling: 16,764 m
Max flight altitude: 20 km
g limits: +9 / -3
Rate of climb: 315 m/s
Wing loading: 312 kg/m2
Thrust/weight: 1.15 (interceptor configuration)
Brakes-off to Take-off acceleration: <8 s
Brakes-off to supersonic acceleration: <30 s
Brakes-off to Mach 1.6 at 11,000 m (36,000 ft): <150 s
Armament
- Air-to-air missiles:
- AIM-120 B/C-5/C-7/C-8
- AIM-9 M/X/L/I-1
- ASRAAM
- Meteors
- IRIS-T
- Air-to-ground weapons:
- AGM-88E AARGM / AGM-88G AARGM ER
- SPEAR-3 / SPEAR GLIDE / SPEAR EW
- SPICE 250 / SPICE 250 ER
- Storm Shadow /SCALP
- MARTE / MARTE ER
- LJDAM / LJDAM ER
- Taurus KEPD 350
- Brimstones 2/3
- Paveway II/IV
- PGM 500
- RBS-14F
- ALARM
- HOSBO
- Targeting pods:
- Lighting 3/5
- RecceLite
- Sniper
Pictures:
Sources
Spoiler
Germany orders 20 new Eurofighters | Airbus
Eurofighter | Military Aircraft | Airbus
https://www.eurofighter.com/news/germany-places-order-for-20-eurofighter-jets
ECRS Mk1 adds key capabilities to Eurofighter Tranche 5 | HENSOLDT
https://eurodass.com/praetorian/evo/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://eurodass.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Praetorian-eVo-brochure.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiq6bKR5aaVAxWTgv0HHSBHHiEQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ykFSTI4Y8KhJAUTygaPjX
https://www.eurofighter.com/news/eurodass-consortium-launches-concept-for-future-typhoon-defensive-aids-sub-system
Equipping the Eurofighter | HENSOLDT
Enhancing the Typhoon’s Praetorian guard
https://www.eurofighter.com/news/eurofighter-and-netma-sign-contract-to-progress-aerodynamic-modification-kit-amk
https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2025/saab-receives-orders-for-arexis-system-for-german-eurofighter
Luftwaffe Eurofighters Poised for Major Upgrades - Defense Archives
https://www.eurofighter.com/news/eurofighter-and-netma-progress-next-capability-enhancement-package-for-typhoon
https://share.google/hhlcg9QsYDvTrEoTd
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We tried to get it fixed so many fic’kng times on the French tigers and they still can’t manage to get it right. Good luck on the German one s/
1 Like
No engine upgrade. Sad… I want it to really be an UFO :D
dw half of the upgrades to the EF are under LTE and so on and will be implemented over time, they made it really confusing
Why would you need engine upgrade when current ones already performs amazing in real life?
Not to mention engineers can increase the output with simple software uptade like they did before.
Software updates are nearly always a trade-off of lifetime ↔ power (except if your FADEC software left much to be desired on release). For example the F135 engine of the F-35 also gets hardware improvements (“Growth Options” GO1 and GO2) by integrating new turbine blades, better fans and compressors and modified combustion chambers. These upgrades can not only enhance the power of the engine, but also the lifetime (continuous run and start-stop-cycling) and efficiency, giving the aircraft a longer range and better power curve in its flight envelope while simultaneously being cheaper to operate and maintain. You could also do things like getting the new engine and throttling it to the power of the old engine to further lengthen the maintenance interval, making peace time operations much cheaper.
And I already found the news that the german budget committee approved that the Tranche 5 will get the improved EJ200 P3Ec Step 3 engine. So it will get a better engine too :)
Better engine is always welcome, the thing is current EJ200 already pushing very good performance on both paper and practice.
Also do we have any information about Step 3 engine ? Does it deliver more power or better efficiency/engine life?
Yep, the EJ200 is a really good engine especially for its size (74 cm fan) but you can always do more, especially if you carry more load. AFAIK the AMK for example enhances the lift of the wings by introducing vortices above the wing which generate a suction effect (similar to close coupled canards of the Gripen and Rafale), but in turn it increases the drag so you need more power for the same speed.
Sadly there is nothing concrete about the P3Ec Step 3 engine (as far as I could find) but it will most likely be a combination of moderatly higher power, better efficiency and longer lifetime (possibly better maintainability too). The design of the EJ200 is already over 25 years old and material science, thermodynamics and fluid-dynamics simulation and knowledge made big strides during that time until today so there should be plenty of potential.
1 Like
While its true that they can increase its performance on many aspect you have to keep in mind it will cost good chunk of money and considering main EFT users are recently switching to AESA radars im not sure how improved will Step 3 be in terms of Flight performance.
There is no real info on P3Ec Step 3 but iirc it falls under the LTE program so its just a matter of when (as almost all things are with the Typhoon).
There suppose to be one something about making the EJ200 more fuel efficient while producing 30% more power for both dry and wet thrust, but i have no sources nor news about that.
Update!
Apparently engine upgrades where planed but nothing is confirmed about them yet so more info might be seen in the future
About SEAD/DEAD loadout of EK…source Airbus.
There are two configurations, SEAD and DEAD.
SEAD carries two jammer pods and two HARMs for immediate action.
DEAD carries 2 HARMs and 6 SPEARs to act upon SEAD’s targeting data.
What is clearly visible is HARM is cleared for stations 2/4 and 10/12, making it 4 in total.
There are two separate sources talking about same issue from 2019 and 2022, using Airbus (OEM) material.
So, AESA Eurofighter should, at least, get 4 HARMs, until jammers/SPEARs arrive.
3 Likes
I don’t think it’s gonna fly. From when are those books?
You know GJ shot down all the graphics and data from early 2000s as “wannabe wishlist”?
However, these articles are from 2018/19, when the plane already did FOC, years ago and the EK configuration has been nailed down.
Extra external ECM pods?
What pods are those? I’ve never heard of the Typhoon carrying an external ECM pod