Certain elements and capabilities are being introduced on the aircraft gradually, to spread out the costs over more years, making the whole program more affordable. The production was, thus, divided into batches and, within the batches, into blocks. Batch 1 covers Block 1; Batch 2 covers Blocks 2, 2B and 5; Batch 3 covers Blocks 8 and 10; and Batch 4 covers Block 15. Batches 1 and 2 forms Tranche 1, while Batches 4 and 5 are Tranche 2. (However, since major changes occur within the blocks, the author decided to refer to blocks for aircraft's system descriptions.)
Block 1 covers 30 aircraft, all two-seaters, used for initial crew training and having only basic air-to-air capabilities. The aircraft have the Captor radar in its initial form but do not have the DASS subsystem. They have PSP1 standard avionics software and have only basic armament abilities, with AIM-9L and AIM-132A (with some limitations), as well as a BK27 gun. All of the Block 1 aircraft were delivered in 2003 (except for one delivered to Germany in 2004). Total Block 1 production (all two-seaters) included nine for Germany, 11 for the UK, six for Italy, and four for Spain.
Block 2 aircraft are being delivered in 2004 and 2005 and will consist of 72 aircraft. They are both single- and two-seaters, with the majority being the former. They have PSP2 standard avionics software, which enables the use of the gun against air targets and the full use of air-to-air missiles: AIM-9L Sidewinder and AIM-132A ASRAAM (the latter of which is used by the RAF). Discussing the armament options, all of the aircraft within each block will have the same capabilities, regardless of country. The fact that a certain user does not posses and does not use a certain type of weapon does not mean that Typhoons of that user cannot carry it (e.g., German Typhoons will be also capable of employing the ASRAAM, though the Luftwaffe does not operate it).
They have also Direct Voice Input and a MIDS datalink system integrated into the avionics system. The aircraft of Block 2 have also a basic version of the DASS, with RWR/ESM and chaff/flare dispensers fully integrated, along with basic ECM capabilities. Block 2B introduces PSP3 avionics software but is basically the same as Block 2. Earlier Block 2 aircraft are to be retrofitted with the same software, thus becoming Block 2B.
It is the intention of the users to bring all of the earlier-produced aircraft to the same standard, as the new blocks appear. It is a relatively easy task, too, as most of the changes lie in the software area, and since the very early Tranche 2 aircraft (Block 8), all of the planned hardware is to be present on the aircraft.
Block 5, the final block of the Tranche 1 (40 aircraft to be produced), is to attain full air-to-air capabilities and some austere air-to-ground capabilities (mainly for the RAF). It is to be integrated with an analog version of the Iris-T and with the AIM-120B AMRAAM. The gun (except for RAF aircraft, on which the gun is to be non-operational as a money-saving measure) is to be integrated with the system to perform ground strafing as well with the use of the AIS (which presents automatically calculated impact points on the HUD). The aircraft, except for German ones, are to receive the PIRATE sensor and the full version of the DASS. The latter will differ slightly in various countries. Only the RAF is going to use the laser-warning receiver. The towed decoy is to be used by all countries except for Germany, but otherwise, the remaining countries are going to receive the same DASS system. The decoy will probably be available already on Block 2B aircraft, while the laser-warning system will be part of Block 5. Also, on all of the aircraft, the MAWS is to be available starting with Block 5 aircraft. The other features of Block 5 aircraft will include full sensor fusion in the avionics suite, full Direct Voice Input, and full air-to-surface carefree handling (Phase 5 flight-control-system software).
All of the Block 5 aircraft are to carry GBU-10 and GBU-16 Paveway II guided bombs. Up to three GBU-10s (normally two) are to be carried or up to five (normally four) of the GBU-16 are to be carried. Only the RAF wants to get Enhanced Paveway II as part of Block 5, but this capability is still being negotiated between the parties. The RAF also wants the targeting-pod integration in Block 5. The pods selected are the Rafael (Haifa, Israel) Litening 3 for the RAF or Litening 2 for the Luftwaffe. The remaining countries have not yet selected a pod yet but will likely also opt for the Litening 3. Germany selected Litening 2 because it is already used by the Luftwaffe and produced by Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH (Oberkochen, Germany). Block 5 systems are to be ready by the end of 2006, and the certification process is to be conducted in early 2007. The aircraft delivered starting in 2007 will be built in accordance to the Block 5 standard.
Tranche 2
The contract for Tranche 2 Typhoon aircraft was signed on Dec. 17, 2004, again between NETMA and Eurofighter GmbH. The contract was worth approximately $25 billion and covered delivery of 236 fighters for four nations. On top of Tranche 2, 18 fighters for Austria are also to be produced within Block 8 under a separate contract. The first 96 aircraft of Tranche 2 are to be built as Block 8 aircraft. Block 8 is to include all of the hardware for the Block 10, but the software will not initially support the use of all of the systems to their full levels performance. Once the software of Block 10 becomes available, all of the Block 8 aircraft will be brought up to the Block 10 standard.
The Block 10 aircraft will have enhanced air-to-air capabilities with the integration of the AIM-120C-5 and the digital version of the Iris-T. The aircraft will also carry up to three GBU-24/B Paveway III (with Mk 84 core), GBU-24B/B (with BLU-109A/B core), or GBU-24E/B Enhanced Paveway III guided bombs. Conventional bombs of the "80" family, as well as cluster bombs are to be integrated as well, with the system automatically calculating the impact point and presenting it on the HUD. The aircraft will also receive an advanced digital map generator, new GPS embedded with its inertial-navigation system (INS), and an enhanced DASS. This last enhancement will probably increase the frequency range to 40 GHz, at least for the RWR/ESM portion. Block 10 Typhoons were to be integrated with ALARM anti-radar missiles, but only for the RAF. Anti-radar capabilities are the subject of ongoing negotiations and have not yet been included in Tranche 2 requirements (or contract), but this can change. Block 10 aircraft will be available starting in 2010.
Roughly 40% of the last Tranche 2 aircraft are to be produced in accordance with the Block 15 standard, perhaps starting in 2010. It is assumed that Meteor missiles will be integrated with the Typhoon starting with Block 15. Up to eight missiles are to be carried (identical number as the AIM-120), including four on the edges of the fuselage and four on under-wing stations. The air-to-ground weapons introduced starting with Block 15 are to include KEPD 350 Taurus and Storm Shadow missiles, with two of each type to be carried on the middle stations under each wing in place of 1,000-liter drop tanks. When two of such missiles are carried, the aircraft can carry only a single underfuselage tank for 1,000 liters of fuel. At that time, the Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) are to become available, each carrying 1,500 liters of additional fuel, thereby mitigating the aforementioned deficiency. There is some mystery, however, regarding the number of Taurus and Storm Shadow missiles to be acquired. According to plans, four of these weapons are to be carried, but some sources suggest that the number was reduced to two, only on the middle station under the wings. Taurus was selected by Germany and Spain, while Storm Shadow was selected by the UK and Italy for their Typhoons. Among other air-to-ground weapon is the Brimstone missile, selected only by the RAF. Up to 15 Brimstones are to be carried on five triple launchers, one under the fuselage and four under the wings.
Block 15 for all the countries is to be also integrated with Paveway IV bombs and with GPS-guided GBU-31/32 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). The latter will be carried in the same number as the Mk.80 family of bombs. The unguided bombs can be carried in the following number: five of the 907-kg bombs, seven of the 454-kg type, or 12 of 225-kg variety (the latter on triple racks under the wings, the former - including one on the fuselage centerline rack). However, the negotiations on the JDAM are still ongoing. For example, Germany, as of now, has no requirement for GPS-guided bombs, and the German air-to-ground weapons are to be Paveway II and Enhanced Paveway II (EGBU-16) bombs and Taurus missiles, along with unguided bombs.
The delivery of the Tranche 2 and Block 15 aircraft is to be completed by the end of 2015.
Tranche 3
The Tranche 3 aircraft have not yet been defined, since the contract for them is expected in next few years. The plans are that Tranche 3 will cover Block 20 and Block 25 aircraft, produced from 2013 to 2015. Tranche 3 most likely will introduce Captor-E radar with an AESA type of antenna, increasing range, and the number of possible target tracks. On the Block 25, it will be probably a NOTAR [not only a radar]
, highly integrated with the aircraft's avionics and performing such functions as supporting the ESM and ECM systems.
Special effort is to be directed toward reducing the RCS of the Typhoon. One option being considered, aside from the introduction of new-generation RAM, is the elimination of the vertical tail and replacing its functions with thrust vectoring. In addition, IR signature and electromagnetic emissions are to be reduced considerably.
Block 20 aircraft are also to introduce enhanced naval attack functions, including the carrying of anti-ship missiles of an as-yet-unspecified type. Block 25 is so remote, though that all the features of this version discussed in the press can be treated as pure speculation.
