News that was more than awaited by Airbus DS, and the entire German defense aeronautical industry: According to the CEO of Airbus Defense & Space, Dirk Hoke, the German authorities should order at the beginning of 2020, 33 new Eurofighter fighters Typhoon, as well as 5 optional devices. At the same time, 110 AESA E-Scan active antenna radars will be ordered as part of a mid-life modernization program for Typhoon of units II and III in service with the Luftwaffe.
This order does not constitute a first tranche dedicated to replace the German Tornado, whose decision has not yet been officially announced, but to replace the first 33 Typhoon delivered to the Luftwaffe. In fact, these tranche I devices cannot evolve without a total overhaul, making the operation inappropriate. In addition to the AESA radar, the new Typhoon of tranche IV and the devices of tranches II and III modernized to this standard, will see the DASS Pretorian protection system modernized, the addition of compliant tanks, and the replacement of internal fiber optic cabling to support the modernization of the computer on board.
The German Air Force today uses 141 combat aircraft Typhoon, including 33 from tranche I which will be replaced by the order detailed here. These aircraft are primarily intended for air defense missions, and mainly arm 4 combat squadrons
- Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 31 (ground attack)
- Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 “Richthofen” (air defense)
- Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 73 (air defense and training)
- Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 (Air defense)
The Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 “Immelmann” specialized in the suppression of air defenses, and the Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33 specialized in air assault, still fly Tornado IDS/ECR. They will abandon their mount for the winner of the opposing competition le Typhoon Airbus DS IV/ECR et Boeing's F/A 18 E/F Super Hornet. If the Typhoon is declared the winner, the Luftwaffe will deploy a fleet of 220 Typhoon, almost as much as the fleet of Rafale intended to equip the French Air Force and Naval Aeronautics according to the 2013 Defense White Paper.