Eurofighter Typhoon

[eatthis]

How much do you bet the RAF ones will have them re-fitted before much longer? It'd save on tanker time, which is all paid for now of course.

slightly off topic but what tankers do we actually have atm?

[pyro-manic]

Tristars and the Voyagers are now in service (or at least some of them are).

I'm not sure the RAF Tiffies will have the CFTs as a matter of course for normal QRA duties (except maybe 1435 Flight?). Any that get deployed anywhere overseas will probably have them, but the weight and drag penalties might not be desirable for "fighter" duties. Pure speculation on my part, of course...

[Thorvic]

Possibly use them for stand off strike missions when Storm Shadow gets cleared for use on them as the Tornado's phase out of service.

[Pellson]

...but the weight and drag penalties might not be desirable for "fighter" duties...

Well - generally, the Tiffies always seem to fly with drop tanks as most fighter jets do. Leaving them off in favour of two "tits" on the back doesn't seem to increase neither weight nor drag, rather improving the latter somewhat. I guess.

[DarrenP]

what are the other weapons options for typhoon?

What are the Anti Radar Options, Anti ship options, etc

[kitnut617]

Tristars and the Voyagers are now in service (or at least some of them are).

I've read somewhere the Tristars will be gone by the end of the year ---

[pyro-manic]

what are the other weapons options for typhoon?

What are the Anti Radar Options, Anti ship options, etc

So far there aren't any. AFAIK Storm Shadow and Brimstone are due to be cleared in the near future for Tranche 3, but I don't know if ALARM is going to be cleared or if it'll be held over until Dave (F-35) comes into service. Anti-ship isn't on the cards, and hasn't been since the Maritime Strike Tornado GR.1B squadrons were retired - Sea Eagle was binned at that time. No reason why such a weapon (I would expect Harpoon to be the first choice) couldn't be cleared though, if the will was there... Of course LGBs and Brimstone have anti-ship capability, but they're not much use against first-tier warships.

I've read somewhere the Tristars will be gone by the end of the year ---

Wouldn't surprise me at all.

[DarrenP]

what about Germans & Italians?

[Hobbes]

So far there aren't any. AFAIK Storm Shadow and Brimstone are due to be cleared in the near future for Tranche 3, but I don't know if ALARM is going to be cleared or if it'll be held over until Dave (F-35) comes into service.

ALARM may be retired instead: http://ukarmedforcescommentary.blogspot.nl/2012/05/replacing-alarm-fighting-in-hostile.html

[PR19_Kit]

until Dave (F-35) comes into service.

Why is an F-35 called 'Dave' please? I can't see a connection.

[Mr.Creak]

until Dave (F-35) comes into service.

Why is an F-35 called 'Dave' please? I can't see a connection.

This thread: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,21727.0.html posts 14 & 16.

[Sauragnmon]

Of course, with its A2G capacity, that just brings up a great little scene in my mind.  Picture if you will, a couple of ground pounders, pinned down by a heavily fortified enemy position.

Soldier A: "Holy hell, man, what the hell happened to our air support?!?"
Soldier B: "Dave's not here, Man..."

[PR19_Kit]

until Dave (F-35) comes into service.

Why is an F-35 called 'Dave' please? I can't see a connection.

This thread: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,21727.0.html posts 14 & 16.

Ahah, thanks. I missed that one I'm afraid.

[pyro-manic]

Why is an F-35 called 'Dave' please? I can't see a connection.

Dull, unimpressive, uninspiring name. Just like the aircraft.

[Rheged]

Why is an F-35 called 'Dave' please? I can't see a connection.

Dull, unimpressive, uninspiring name. Just like the aircraft.

The Fleet Air Arm  went through a phase of using seabird names for their aircraft----Fulmar, Gannet  etc.  To continue this pattern, how about the  BOOBY  (pink  or blue footed)?