The Plane Is Old: The Eurofighter Typhoon, a versatile 4th-generation fighter, has served the RAF for over 20 years but is gradually being phased out. While some Typhoons will retire soon, others will remain operational until replaced by the 6th-generation Tempest by 2035.
-The Typhoon remains crucial for air-policing and quick-reaction missions due to its affordability and agility. Meanwhile, the RAF will increasingly rely on the stealthier F-35.
-The Tempest, featuring advanced stealth, augmented reality for pilots, and next-generation weapons, will eventually take over as the RAF’s mainstay.
-For now, the Typhoon continues to play a key role in British homeland defense.
Eurofighter Typhoon’s Final Mission: RAF’s Air Defense Evolution
Once hailed as the United Kingdom’s main strike fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon may be assigned to a backup role or be replaced by stealth airplanes like the F-35 and the future Tempest 6th generation fighter.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has employed the 4th generation Eurofighter Typhoon for more than 20 years.
Still, now the fighter could be relegated to home defense or for intercepting enemy airplanes while responding to alerts and conducting quick reaction missions.
It Reminds One of the F-16
The Eurofighter Typhoon can be compared to the American F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Typhoon had been the backbone of the RAF and served as a multi-role interceptor that defended the country well. The Typhoon still has many upsides and should not be fully discarded by Britain anytime soon.
Forty-nine F-16 Vipers and MQ-9 Reapers assigned to the 49th Wing line up on the runway during an elephant walk at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, April 21, 2023. The 49th Wing is the Air Force’s largest F-16 and MQ-9 formal training unit, building combat aircrew pilots and sensor operators ready for any future conflicts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Victor J. Caputo)
“If what you require are quick reaction alert and air-policing, then probably you want something with greater range, with better performance at an altitude that isn’t sensitive from a security point of view and is cheaper to operate,” said Royal United Services Institute fellow Justin Bronk. “The Typhoon is much better suited to that role.”
However, since the Typhoon can carry a hefty payload, it was well-suited to fly missions over Iraq and Syria. Plus, the airplane was easy to upgrade over the years, and its avionics, radar, and electronic countermeasures were improved.
Some Typhoon Fighters Will Be Taken Out of Service
Unfortunately, some of the older Eurofighter Typhoons will need to be retired.
According to Air Force Technology, there will be fewer fighters to train on, which negatively affects the air superiority mission.
However, some Typhoons will fly on for several more years as the airplane won’t be replaced entirely until 2035 when the BAE Systems Tempest will execute the multi-role air interceptor role that the Typhoon is so good at.
Tempest 6th-Generation Fighter from BAE Systems.
What Is So Tempting About the Tempest?
Team Tempest is a partnership between BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Leonardo, and MBDA. The Tempest will use advanced materials for better stealth and enable 3D-printing of components to upgrade the 6th generation warbird quickly and effectively.
Tempest is pilot-friendly and will allow aviators to fly with an augmented reality and virtual reality helmet that functions as the “screen” for the cockpit.
“The Tempest operator will be able to think and act two to three steps ahead of their adversary because of the advanced and highly integrated sensors, non-kinetic effects, and communications systems,” according to the Royal Air Force.
Tempest Artist Rendition. Image Credit: Industry Handout.
The Tempest will also carry the “next-generation Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile Meteor and the network enabled-precision surface attack missiles of the SPEAR family of weapons,” the RAF explained.
Until the Tempest is in serial production and is flying regularly, the F-35 will become the RAF’s go-to fighter, although the Eurofighter Typhoon is less expensive to fly than the F-35. The difference is full stealth capabilities, which the Typhoon does not have.
Tempest. Image Credit: Industry handout.
More Details About the Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon has a delta-wing shape and canards. You can’t miss this airplane at air shows. The Typhoon goes back to 1994, and 700 fighters have been manufactured since then, with several countries purchasing it besides the United Kingdom.
The Typhoon is known for its digital fly-by-wire system. The airplane is agile and maneuverable. Moreover, it can fly for more than 6,000 hours.
The airplane has added some capabilities that have reduced the radar cross-section over the years to give it some stealth attributes.
Two Eurojet EJ200 engines push out 20,230 pounds of thrust with afterburners. The Typhoon has supercruise ability and is more fuel-efficient than most fourth-generation fighters.
The Eurofighter Typhoon will be in service for another 15 years. It has proven its worth and is a valiant and reliable fighter. Should everything go according to plan, the Tempest will replace it completely by the mid-2030s.
The RAF will also fly the F-35. 138 F-35s will be utilized for the Royal Air Force and Navy. This seems like a good plan for the British military. Replacement of the Typhoon will come in phases while it still can perform air policing roles for better homeland defense.
So, the Eurofighter Typhoon has not fully reached the end of the line, at least for now.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
