Announcement today that the UK has ordered another 40 Eurofighter Typhoons and in total the 4 nations involved 112 aircraft. This is just under half of the full Tranche 3 and is being called Tranche 3a.
Good employment news in the area. Some might say it could have been better but it takes some uncertainty away. This order is only half the quantity originally expected and the Ministry of Defence and RAF are making noises that they don’t want any more Typhoons the difference being taken up by export orders.
The recent announcement by the Ministry of Defence, that the Royal Air Force will only receive a small number of additional Typhoon aircraft from the amended Tranch 3a agreement signed last month, must cast doubt on the ability of the RAF to maintain a credible air defence and ground strike capability after the scheduled retirement of its long serving and hard pressed Tornado F3 and GR4 force. Cutting the procurement of Typhoon to 160 (155 operational) aircraft from the planned 283 will no doubt free-up more money for the Joint Strike Fighter programme aimed at providing the RAF and RN with a state of the art replacement for current Harrier aircraft.
It is claimed this JSF/JCA (Joint Combat Aircraft) will place the RAF/RN at the forefront of fighter technology and give UK forces a true multi-role air defence system that will surpass the majority of other weapons systems in production today; but this and other claims on its envisaged capabilities are now being viewed with a mix of increased sceptism and caution by many, as is the rising cost of the entire programme.
Coupled with Typhoon aircraft, the JCA – if indeed its acquisition comes to fruition – may well keep the RAF at the cutting edge of military aviation; but taking cognizance of the Typhoon’s trickle-down deliveries to date, the diversion of aircraft to meet overseas orders, planned modification and life-extension programmes, in actual numbers remaining, the UK’s air combat effectiveness will be reduced to its lowest state for several decades? With no in-service date yet decided for the JCA, the UK’s air defence will rest solely with five, operational, home based Squadrons, two Operational Conversion Units and in all likelihood, two overseas detachments, all drawn down from a vastly reduced Typhoon order book – which in itself will not now be completed until 2016/7. This may be good news for the cynics who still consider the Typhoon to be born of an outdated, cold war philosophy; but in fact, nothing could be further from the truth: Those of us who were associated with the original European Fighter Aircraft programme will remember that even during the early design phases for the EAP (Experimental Aircraft Prototype), thoughts were being seriously directed towards the multi-role requirements this aircraft would eventually be called upon to perform. Fortunately, after some considerable foot dragging, this potential is finally being realized but at oh, such a slow pace!
Plans for the Tornado aircraft’s inevitable retirement seem to be accelerating at a time when they are most needed. If allowed to go unchecked, within five years the RAF will find itself critically short of front line strike/fighter aircraft. Coupled with delays to other procurement programmes, its overall effectiveness will be seriously degraded for many years to come. If, as many suspect, the Royal Navy’s two supercarriers are cancelled, the orders for the Joint Combat Aircraft will also suffer, leaving the MOD with little option other than fulfill it’s original intention or buy off-shelf aircraft; or resign our overall capability to a much reduced state. To avoid this perilous prospect, we need a new political-will, able to send a serious wake-up call echoing through the corridors of power; but does such will still exist?
Ian Dewar
A well written note Ian. It does suppose a number of negative events which since the financial crisis appear more probable. Although supposing a change of government next year some priorities might change.
Thanks for that feedback and yes, you’re quite right, a change of government might help but that is by no means sure. I believe we will shortly hear an announcement on the carriers ‘postponement’ and probably some delay or shift in ‘trident’ (no big deal when a much cheaper option is available) When will our political masters realise that the answer is an integrated European Defence Policy and more co-operation with or French and German allies on developing existing and/or new aircraft/equipment? Under the Obama administration Britain can no longer rely on the technology transfer it once enjoyed? Time for change I think?
I’d like to support your note about European Defence and co-operation.
I’m not sure if a European Defence Policy would be a worthless piece of paper as it seems that when it comes to any crunch that Europe’s togetherness is very flakey.
Also I havn’t heard of any major aircraft project that UK could co-operate on. What follows Typhoon? The ships are the equivalent of the next aircraft project so something looks like it will give.
Also like Typhoon there seems to be an ability to stretch out projects so the ships and Trident are moving feasts. A bit like nuclear power stations and we’re now threatened with an energy gap. The F35 seems to conveniently move as well.
Also UAV’s are coming onto the scene and another pressure point might build up there.
Totally agree with you on all points but flakey or not, it must at least be an option worth exploring. If the F35/Carrier programme slips beyond or sinks below a reasonable horizon, all the more reason for us (UK) to be pressing for Typhoon’s future development. The French are not at all happy with Rafael’s reliability or performance in the carrier born role and I understand some overtures were made to B.Ae on a carrier version of Typhoon some time ago. If. as may well happen, we end up buying only one supercarrier and the French take the other, that could open up a ‘commonality’ argument for Typhoon as opposed to F35 – but that’s maybe more wishful thinking? Regarding other projects, well, we’ll have to wait and see what happens but cost/plane ratio’s are becoming such that we will need to have aircraft in service for much longer than originally envisaged….difficult times lie ahead!