PROGRAMME NEWS & FEATURES EUROFIGHTER MARCH 2016

 A CHANGING WORLD

 COMBAT EDGE

 HOWARD’S WAY

MASSA vs. BOWMAN WHEN SPLIT SECONDS COUNT 2 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EDITORIAL 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 3

CONTENTS

EUROFIGHTER WORLD PROGRAMME NEWS & FEATURES MARCH 2016

05 Editorial Welcome message from Volker Paltzo, the new CEO of Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH.

30 Combat Edge Title: Reflections on speed and Sensor fusion is decision making. what gives the Eurofighter Two professionals speak out. 06 Better and Better Typhoon real Picture: BAE Systems/Williams F1 P2E enhancements ‘Combat Edge’. mean Eurofighter And that’s why pilots Typhoon just gets love it. Read more. better and better.

Eurofighter World is published by Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, 36 Exercise Trident Juncture PR & Communications Italian Air Force Typhoon squadrons proved their worth Am Söldnermoos 17, 85399 Hallbergmoos 08 Split Second Supremacy when they took to the skies as part of the largest NATO Tel: +49 (0) 811-80 1587 [email protected] is one of the best-loved and most exercise since 2002. experienced 48 Material World Editorial Team Theodor Benien rac ers in F1. Here Originally designed as an aircraft with incredible Simon Shrouder we talk to the performance in the air-to-air domain, the Eurofighter Martina Schmidmeir F1 driver and to Typhoon is put together Contributers Typhoon’s Mark using advanced composite Airbus Defence and Space Bowman about life materials. Find out more. BAE Systems Finmeccanica - Aircraft Division in the fast lane. EUROJET Turbo GmbH Royal Air Force Tim Robinson Viva PR

Photography Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH 18 38 Battlespace: A Changing World Eurofighter Partner Companies In this edition of Eurofighter WORLD we speak to Tim Geoffrey Lee, Planefocus Limited, UK Giovanni Colla Robinson, the Editor-in-Chief of Aerospace , the maga- 50 Round Up Dr. Stefan Petersen, Luftwaffe MBDA Precision Engineering zine of the Royal Aeronautical Practice Makes Perfect

Design & Production We take a closer look at the Society. Here he gives his as - images.art.design. Werbeagentur GmbH work of specialists sessment of Eurofighter’s role Eurofighter and NETMA Sign Agreement to www.iad-design.de MBDA and their relationship in the new world order. Streamline Processes.

Printed by with Eurofighter. ESTA Druck GmbH Game Over – In Less Than A Blink of an Eye… www.esta-druck.de

51 Social Media: Be part of our social media family. 22 Stage B Production Testing Eurofighter World on the Internet www.eurofighter.com Howard Kerr unfolds the story behind production IN OUR NEXT ISSUE... Follow us on: testing during the manufacture 44 Fighting Talk: Brigadier Javier Del Cid De Leon We report on the major Air Shows 2016 of a . A Brigadier, who lives and breathes aircraft, shares Special report from Red Flag in Nellis, Nevada with us the messages he Latest updates on capability progress

If you would like to request additional copies of 28 The Pilot’s Survival Suit gave to a London Fighter Eurofighter World, please contact the It breathes for him, it keeps Conference. PR & Communications Department at Eurofighter GmbH blood where it is needed, it even [email protected] squeezes his socks. The Euro- March 2016 fighter Pilot’s Survival Suit is like nothing else you have ever seen. 4 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EDITORIAL 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 5

WELCOME

’m delighted to be back at Eurofighter, especially in my new role as Chief IExecutive Officer (CEO) of a company I know and love. It’s a great time to re-join the organisation. This magazine is just one of the many ‘shop windows’ on our world, and I hope you enjoy reading it.

In the Eurofighter Typhoon, we have a world-class combat aircraft, and I’m certain we can look to the future with confidence. Right now, there’s much happening on the L Programme. Work is going full steam ahead on contracts for and integration, for the future E-Scan radar and on Phase 3 Enhancements. A This issue of Eurofighter WORLD should give you a real sense of how the aircraft is taking shape, as well as the I pride and expertise of the people who work closely with it.

There are some fascinating articles, not least the feature

R interview with the F1 driver, Felipe Massa. In it he looks at some of the parallels between F1 drivers and fast jet pilots. We’re very grateful to the Williams F1 Team for their help in making that story come to life. O

We also speak to NETMA’s Brigadier Javier Del Cid De Leon, who led the first Spanish Air Force deployment of T Eurofighters on Baltic Air Patrol. He speaks about the crucial role the Eurofighter Typhoon plays in protecting

I national interests.

Another article I’d recommend is a feature on how Eurofighter’s sensors work together to give pilots what we D like to call ‘Combat Edge’ during a mission. It highlights a whole host of intelligent design features that go into mak - ing the aircraft so special. Linking into that is a piece by

E guest author and journalist Tim Robinson from the Royal Aeronautical Society, who talks about Eurofighter’s place in the ever-changing battle space.

There’s also a look at the specialist equipment that goes into creating a Eurofighter pilot’s unique life support system — technology meets life-support clothing in ways few could imagine.

Finally, this issue also offers you a chance to take a look at the work we do to bring advance capability to the air - craft with one of our key partners MBDA. It puts the ‘weapons’ into our Weapons System and gives insight into a fascinating world.

I hope you enjoy the read as much as I did, and I’d welcome any feedback you may have.

Yours

Volker Paltzo CEO Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH Austrian Air Force Eurofighters air-air at Zeltweg 6 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER ENHANCEMENT EUROFIGHTER ENHANCEMENT 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 7

There are further OPAT tests planned this The first release of a Storm Shadow mis - at this stage provides us with invaluable feed - year. These tests will seek to determine any sile from Typhoon IPA2 took place in back that we can assess and directly feed - changes or improvements that would need to November 2015. back into the design process. This combined BETTER AND BETTER be implemented before the final version of the This continued the series of trials our testing approach is a fundamental part of how upgrade commences flight test and roll-out. Eurofighter Partner Company, Finmeccanica - we are improving the way we do business. It They are part of a combined testing approach, Aircaft Division, is leading to demonstrate the allows the customer to fly capability improve - allowing the customer to fly capability full integration of the Storm Shadow missile ments at an early stage and provide feedback improvements at an early stage and feed into with the Typhoon weapons system. Further to ensure the upgrades are exactly what the design process to ensure the upgrades integration work, including scheduled firing tri - they need.” Eurofighter Typhoon is the most advanced new generation swing-role combat aircraft are exactly what the end operator needs. als on Meteor and Storm Shadow, is ongoing. The Eurofighter Typhoon is subject to an P2Ea is a major stepping stone along the Finmeccanica - Aircaft Division, with sup - extensive continuous upgrade programme currently available on the world market. And the past 12 months have seen progress across path of the RAF’s Project CENTURION — the port from BAE Systems, missile designer and and the latest Phase 1 Enhancement (P1E) project to ensure a seamless transition be - producer MBDA, and specialist trials support package — delivering true simultaneous swing- a range of programmes for the aircraft — not least testing on Phase 2 Enhancements , a tween Typhoon and Tornado GR4's roles from QinetiQ, conducted trials at the role capability to Eurofighter — entered into when the latter goes out of service in 2019. Aberporth MoD firing range. Further work on service with the UK RAF last year. major stepping stone in the continuing capability journey of the aircraft. So what will it The full P2E upgrade for the RAF will in - both Storm Shadow and Meteor continues. Upgrades and integration of new weaponry, clude the integration of the MBDA Meteor Andy Flynn, Head of Capability Delivery as part of P2E, further enhances the aircraft’s bring to the mix and how is it shaping up? >> Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile. The Programmes for Combat Air at BAE Systems, potent multi-role and swing-role capabilities — next phase of enhancements, P3E, will bring said: “Working with the customer test teams adding new capability to strike day or night, in the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile and all-weather conditions. << he UK Royal Air Force Test and will work when fully in service. This feedback offensive and defensive counter-air, stand-off MBDA 2 close air support weapon Evaluation Squadron has welcomed the is then assessed and helps directly influence attack and close air support. That's a lot of into service on the Typhoon in the UK. Tcapability upgrades to the Eurofighter the final design. skills for a frontline squadron to master. Typhoon combat jet after taking the latest en - Two tests were conducted using Typhoon Typhoon needs to deliver all of that capability hancements to the skies to test how they will IPA (Instrumented Production Aircraft) 6 – one a in a simple, reliable cockpit.” work when in service. typical air-to-air exercise and the other an air-to- 41(Reserve (R)) Sqn TES (Test and surface exercise targeting simulated targets. Evaluation Squadron), based at RAF Wing Commander Steven Berry, of 41(R) Coningsby, has been at BAE Systems’ site in Sqn, said: “The P2Ea upgrade brings some Warton, Lancashire, where an early version of major capability changes and some welcome the Phase 2 Enhancements (P2Ea) Typhoon, tweaks to the existing capabilities. The was successfully tested. enhancements mean as an air-to-surface 41(R) Sqn TES pilots conducted a number platform, Typhoon has the simplicity and of Operational Performance Assessment flexibility in the design to be easily em - Tests (OPAT) on the aircraft. These OPAT ployed in close air support missions or more flights allow the customer to fly an early ver - complex scenarios like convoy over-watch. sion of the P2Ea avionics and software “By 2019, Typhoon will be filling a lot of upgrades in a way which represents how they roles, including air defence of the UK, 8 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER VS F1 EUROFIGHTER VS F1 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 9 SPLIT SECOND SUPREMACY In the world of Fighter Jets & - winning means survival. Here F1's Felipe Massa and Eurofighter Typhoon's Mark Bowman explain why. >>

FELIPE MASSA MARK BOWMAN

Nationality: Brazilian Nationality: British Born: 25th April 1981 Job description: F1 Racing Driver Height: 1.66m CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Weight: 60kg 2015 Director Flight Operations

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2015 Chief Test Pilot

2014 Joined BAE Systems as Harrier Racing Driver for Williams Project Test Pilot and then as Typhoon Project Test Pilot. 2006 – 2013 Racing Driver for Appointed by Ministry of Defence on Operational Requirements area for 2004 – 2005 Typhoon programme. Racing Driver for the Sauber Petronas F1 Team Flew Harrier GR7 in Middle East and Balkan campaigns 2003 Test Driver for Scuderia Ferrari Promoted Squadron Leader - posted to frontline as an executive on 3(F) 2002 Squadron Racing Driver for the Sauber Petronas F1 Team Project Test Pilot, - night electro- optical capability in Harrier Jaguar 2001 weapons trials in support of Gulf Euro F3000 Champion. Test with the War Sauber Petronas F1 Team Trained and qualified as test pilot at 2000 Boscombe Down Empire Test Pilot's Italy and European Formula Renault School flying Harrier and Jaguar Champion Posted to 1(F)and IV(AC) Squadrons - 1999 worldwide deployments, flew Harrier Formula Chevrolet Champion (Brazil) VSTOL fighter.

1998 Entered flying training at RAF Debut in single-seater Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Sunday 15 November 2015. Cranwell, Valley and Chivenor Felipe Massa, Williams FW37 Mercedes, makes a pit stop. 1990 © LAT Photographic Studied Aeronautical Engineering at Debut in karting Imperial College.

Joined the RAF as a cadet 10 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER VS F1 EUROFIGHTER VS F1 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 11

>> SPLIT SECOND SUPREMACY

Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, United States of America. Sunday 25 October 2015. Felipe Massa, Williams F1. © LAT Photographic THE F1 DRIVER

Monte Carlo, Monaco. Thursday 21 May 2015. Felipe Massa, Williams F1. © LAT Photographic

 Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Felipe Massa is one of the best-loved and most Sunday 29 November 2015. Felipe Massa, Williams F1. experienced racers in the F1 paddock. The Williams driver took time out of his busy schedule to talk to  Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico. Saturday 31 October 2015. Felipe Massa, Eurofighter WORLD about the challenges he faces, Williams F1. Photograph: Steven Tee © LAT Photographic is always on the edge and a small mistake can small number of F1 seats, so the the parallels between his sport and the world of a take you off the track. That’s definitely the key is to be able to stand out and case on very tight tracks like Monaco. show that you have something fast jet pilot, and his love of speed. >> special and different to the rest. How much training is done in a simulator Natural talent is one thing, but and how advanced are they in terms of that needs to be backed up with a being able to truly prepare the driver for lot of hard work. You also need to lights off, race day? be humble and to have a desire to Because we have only a limited number of always improve and get better, days where we can test the actual car during a even if you are winning races. How does the F1 driver assimilate informa - car and what isn’t – this helps with developing season, simulators are a very big part of the Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, United States tion in the cockpit – whether it is coming the car over the course of a season. You also work I do. We have a very sophisticated simu - How important do you think of America. Friday 31 October 2014. Felipe Massa, Williams FW36 Mercedes. Photograph: Steven Tee through the earpiece, steering wheel or have to be able to work well within the team. lator at Williams and I will drive that before a technology drivers in the world © LAT Photographic any other input – and how does this affect There are a number of qualities you need to race to understand the track, but also to help the consequences of a mistake for a fighter of aerospace and motor racing are to the performance? When is it a bad time to be make it to F1, and then stay there, because with the setup of the car. The tracks are laser pilot can be far more serious. I’d say racing average person? spoken to? it’s so competitive. scanned so they are very accurate. That’s drivers and fighter pilots would have a similar There has always been a history of technolo - I’m the sort of driver who is quite comfort - really what the simulator is for – it’s an impor - mentality – a love of speed, high technology gies from F1 making their way into the real able receiving information from the team In a race situation, do you ever feel alone tant piece of equipment for developing and etc. I imagine a number of F1 drivers would world, particularly into road cars. I know when driving, but you do work with your or do you feel part of a much larger team improving your car. Of course nothing will like a career as a pilot if they had not made it Williams are doing a lot of work in this area. team to make sure that you are getting infor - reliant on strategic, technical and me - ever compare to the real thing so simulators as racing drivers. We have an Advanced Engineering division on mation at moments that are the least dis - chanical inputs? have their limits, but the technology is im - the same site as the F1 team and they focus tracting. The straights are the best time for You never feel alone in the car because you proving all of the time. What attracts you to the sport — the on taking F1 technology and introducing it in - me and my engineers will try and relay very busy behind the wheel and you’re con - speed, the technology, the competition, to other areas. In fact I know they work with anything I need to know when I’m driving a stantly getting information and requests to What are the similarities between F1 dri - the teamwork? aerospace and defence companies. straight, rather than a corner. You also need change things in the car setup, or information vers and fighter pilots? Do you think F1 I love cars, and I love speed – I was born like I’ve been over to their workshop a number of to be comfortable with the engineer who is on the strategy and when to stop etc. You get drivers and fighter pilots are very much that. When I was a kid I always wanted to go times and they have some very cool projects in your ear. That person needs to be organ - a sense that you’re driving for many people. the same breed of people? fast and loved cycling and going on the go – although many of them are secre - ised and give you concise and accurate It depends really. If you’re just flying normally skateboarding. But I also always wanted to tive and I can’t talk about them! In F1 we work information. If I have a new engineer I will What is the job like from a physical per - then I imagine it is quite a different job and make a race out of anything and challenge my with the latest technologies and make things work with them before the start of the sea - spective – the biggest challenges – the would probably be easier and more relaxed, but friends. So whilst I certainly love fast cars and very very quickly, so it’s not surprising that son to practice our radioconversations so surprisingly easy bits? if you’re fighting with someone in the air or the technology, for me it is really the competi - other companies would want to learn from that you are in a good rhythm before the You have to be an athlete to drive an F1 car. trying to escape, then there are a lot of paral - tion side that attracted me to F1. If you’re just that. I remember the Williams Advanced season starts. We can experience 5G when braking and lels. In an F1 car you’re always fighting and bat - driving the car and you’re not against the Engineering Team have worked on a project cornering and that puts a lot of strain through tling with someone in front or behind and have clock, it is not anywhere near as fun as when taking F1 aerodynamics ideas and introducing Beyond driving, what do you consider to be your body and particularly your neck, as we to be very aware of what is going on around you’re racing or trying to beat a time. them into supermarket fridges for example! the key skills needed to do the job? are racing non-stop for nearly two hours. We you. A fighter pilot in a combat moment has to The most important thing is raw talent – you also have to cope with very high temperatures. be just like this. Of course they are risking What advice would you give to anyone What’s your personal message to the have to be consistently quick. Without that At a race like Malaysia the temperature in the more than we are so I have a lot of respect for who wants to pursue a career that revolves readers of Eurofighter WORLD? you will never get into F1. Aside from that, you cockpit can reach 50°C and it feels like driving them. If we make a mistake we will lose lap around speed and split second decision I have a lot of respect for pilots and there are need to also have a good knowledge of engi - in a sauna. You also have to have a lot of time or might spin, especially because the making? certainly similarities to what we do. A love of neering to understand what is working in the concentration and be strong mentally. The car safety of the cars has improved so much, but There are a lot of people fighting for a very speed and technology runs in our blood! >> 12 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER VS F1 EUROFIGHTER VS F1 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 13

>> SPLIT SECOND SUPREMACY THE FIGHTER PILOT

RAF Coningsby Eurofighter Typhoon, April 2008 Director of Flight Operations Mark Bowman , heads up the aircraft. That means you need to feel what BAE Systems’ Flight Test group at Warton in the UK. He has the potential of the platform is. For example, how quickly is the aircraft turning compared to worked with a number of F1 teams looking at ways of sharing how much back stick you’ve put in? Or how you manage tell-tail buffet when it’s telling you best practice. Here he looks at the parallels between the the aircraft is reaching a limit? Ultimately, to help win or lose, it’s a question of how well the worlds of an F1 driver and a Eurofighter Typhoon pilot. >> pilot is able to identify when the aircraft is reaching the limit or ‘she’ has more to give. On top of that of course the pilot is constantly receiving information from the aircraft’s sen - sors. They take it in, process it and translate it How does the combat pilot assimilate that allow them to operate in what can be a into where and how they want the aircraft to information in the cockpit – whether it is very challenging domain. You need to be a move. In terms of competitiveness, for a fight - coming through the helmet comms or any clear communicator, have a high level of tech - er pilot, that means simply who takes the first other source of input – and how does this nical knowledge of the platform (both its shot usually wins, and then whether it’s a case potentially affect performance? Is there a capabilities and limitations), plus a state of of fight or flight. In Typhoon the answer is bad time to be spoken to? mind that allows you to quickly take in infor - usually fight and win! Information comes from all sorts of sources mation, resolve problems, and act on them. all the time. For example, there are the visual So you need tenacity. In a mission situation, do you ever feel displays and these are now usually enhanced Having said that, you also need to be a good alone or do you feel part of a much larger with helmet mounted displays. In addition, team player, because you’re not acting up team reliant on strategic, technical and pilots also hear through the comms system there on your own. Being a fighter pilot is very mechanical inputs? from various sensors. As a result, a key task much a team effort that involves the clever At the most basic level you could describe it for the pilot is to decide how and when to act engineers, ground crew and of course, the as a pilot being in his ‘bubble’, but only in the on the information that’s coming at them. A other members of the formation; there’s sense that you need to have full concentration great deal of the training that today’s frontline simply no ‘I’ in team. on the mission, rather than dealing with dis - pilot receives is about taking in all this infor - tractions. The mission becomes the pilot’s all mation, mentally processing it and, if we’ve Can you describe the overall situational consuming focus. Reinforcing that you need got the design right, making decisions - most awareness a fighter pilot has in the cock - to have full confidence in the performance of often the right ones. pit – what can they see, hear, feel and your weapons system. sense? How do these blend together and You are also acutely aware of support you may Given the complexity, speed and volume of how can this affect competitiveness? need from other ‘players’, whether that’s as information they’re processing, the only way Well first you need to understand that you’re part of the formation or part of supporting as - they’re able to do that is thanks to a cockpit operating in a hostile environment, certainly sets such as E3-AWACS or ground troops. design that allows the pilot to swiftly make environmentally, if not always operationally — sense of what’s happening and take time-crit - whilst outside it can be warm or cold, inside, How much does the aircraft ‘fly’ itself? ical decisions. In combat you need informa - the air con keeps it just about right, but even We are at a point now where flying the aircraft tion to be clear, simply presented and sup - the best protection in the world can’t prevent is no longer the all-consuming task that it might ported by a system that allows the pilot to you from noticing just how bright the sun is! have been say 25 years ago. We almost take it swiftly analyse likely success or failure. And the engineers have done wonders in help - as a given that the technology will allow the air - ing eliminate noise from the cockpit. That craft to practically fly itself, but it’s for a very Beyond flying, what do you consider to be said, all those kinds of stresses need to be good reason. Most of the pilot’s capacity needs the key skills need to do the job? addressed. to be focused on the mission, rather than There are clearly some key mental and physi - But beyond that the fighter pilot needs to have wrestling with the controls and making sure the cal attributes that every fighter pilot needs what I’d call, a real sense of connectivity with GAF Eurofighter Typhoon of JG-74 Neuburg aircraft is flyable. New levels of automation >> 14 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER VS F1 EUROFIGHTER VS F1 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 15

>> SPLIT SECOND SUPREMACY

are coming along all the time and ultimately the on very quickly – put them in their box — and flying an aircraft at 250ft above the ground. flying task may be taken away from the pilot. remain focused on the task. Bravery, it’s a The more you get into it and test yourself in That opens up the question of whether we mental thing! those kinds of environments, where speed is should continue calling them pilots or merely central, the more you want it. It becomes like mission systems commanders. I need to check How much training is done in a simulator a drug. the dictionary! and how advanced are they in terms of Then it’s a case of choosing the jobs that will being able to truly prepare the pilots for allow you to do that. You have to possess What is the job like from a physical pers- mission? ambition, drive and self-belief. You also need pective? What are the biggest challenges I know there is growing use of simulators in the mentality that, if at any stage it doesn’t and the surprisingly easy bits? both fields, as technology improves and they work out, you learn to stand up, dust yourself The environment can be quite brutal because become more and more accurate and precise. off and move onto the next thing but you don’t of the rotational and pitching forces. An air - Where once a pilot may have expected to ever give up or give in, you just find other craft like Typhoon can operate between +9G spend 10 per cent of their time in a simulator, clever ways to fulfill your ambition. It’s all a and -3G and rotation rates approaching a full the fighter pilot of today will probably be mental thing. revolution a second, and therefore physical spending closer to 50 per cent. The role of the fitness and resilience is important. Clearly the simulator has changed too. It used to be What advice would you give to anyone aircraft is designed to help the pilot cope well where you went once a month to test your who wants to pursue a career that through some cool kit like full cover anti-G suit emergency procedures, but now the quality revolves around speed and split second and by modifying the angle of the ejection and ability to accurately produce sensor decision making? seat, but overall strength, both physical and performance means you can simulate most First of all, self-belief is important. You need mental, are required in large handfuls. missions. It’s a great way of learning lessons, talent, but you can always strengthen your One of the surprisingly easy bits is what we allows you to be very productive and doesn’t natural skills with training and practice. But call ‘relaxed G’ which is the ability for the pilot cost as much as using the real thing. you also need ambition and, along the way, to sustain relatively high G for long periods of you are going to need some luck too. You time. Some of the challenges that people What could pilots learn from F1 and vice should never ever believe that you have to don’t often think about come from the some - versa? give up. times longer duration trips. What do you do on We both deal with a multi-skilled team of peo - long transits when you don’t have the ability ple, both use high tech equipment and both How important do you think technology to get up and stretch your legs? Typhoon has operate in high performance teams. From drivers in the world of aerospace and to have the capacity to stay airborne for long what I’ve seen of the F1 world I really admire motor racing are to the average person? periods and it’s these that can present the the resilience of F1 drivers. Technology pushes both our worlds at an biggest sometimes ‘physical and contortional’ From a testing point of view test pilots go incredible speed and very often both are used challenges for pilots, where ‘crossed legs’ are through a 12-month course learning how to as a test bed for the innovations that filter not an option! analyse and communicate within the team. down into the ‘real’ world. There are obvious But there is no F1 test driver school or equiv - parallels between F1 and aerospace, for What do you consider the parallels are alent that uses a common language within the example, the use of simulators and wind tun - between being an F1 driver and a fighter sport of F1. So from that perspective there is nels. We are in a sense operating in a similar pilot? perhaps a future opportunity. Because space. To push technology, you need compa - For my money you need similar personality whether you are testing an aircraft or an F1 nies working in an agile way and you need to traits — drive, ambition, talent and also an aw - car, the ability to communicate words with have people who are clever enough to adapt ful lot of luck. I know from personal experi - precision and consistent meaning is essential. the changes. ence that both pilots and F1 drivers can get What could we learn from the sport? Well, very close to the edge and clearly, the aim is having witnessed at first hand the singular How important is the ‘human element’ in to minimise those occasions. I think the men - empowerment and responsibility that the engi - the total performance package? tality is similar. In fact mutual respect. neering teams in F1 are given, there are prob - When you have Typhoon flying with another We also operate in a similar high tech environ - ably some lessons we could learn here. They Typhoon what it highlights is human frailty. ment. We are asked on occasions to use unfa - are trusted and empowered to react quickly The machine’s performance is exactly the miliar technology at much earlier stages of and produce sound results. In both worlds the same — the only variable is the human. The development than perhaps the rest of the consequences of getting it wrong are acute mental state or approach of each pilot can be population and so we have to become very and therefore the quality of the team training different and that can effect performance. It adaptable to change. in F1 has to be something to be admired. demonstrates that some people adapt better Of course, in one area we are quite different — to different situations. Under very high levels we aren’t paid the same rock star salaries that What attracts you to the combat air envi - of stress the human becomes more vulnerable the F1 boys are! ronment — the speed, the technology, the to small changes. competition, the teamwork? This underscores the importance of getting Are you both brave? Being a fighter pilot or F1 driver is every young and training the right people, with the right Brave! I don’t know, I’d say we are good at person’s dream. I was no different. There skillset, the right mental attitude and compartmentalisation and very task focused, were two paths I wanted to take – flying or resilience. This is absolutely key to normalis - rather than allowing external factors to inter - driving. I was looking for excitement, endeav - ing the chances of things going wrong fere with our thoughts too much when air - our and something that would give you a because of human failure. >> borne. It is fair to say during your career you rewarding and exciting life. Speed is an obvi - will experience some great successes, near ous attraction. It draws you in. misses and scrapes but you can’t dwell on What I’ve discovered is that a car going fast them for too long. You have to be able to move over a road is every bit as exhilarating as 16 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER VS F1 EUROFIGHTER VS F1 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 17

>> SPLIT SECOND SUPREMACY

WILLIAMS F1 (2015) EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON

POWER UNITS 90kN from each of the two Eurojet EJ200 Turbojets POWER UNIT Mercedes-Benz PU106B, Turbocharged V6 with Hybrid Engine Recovery System MAX SPEED Mach 2.0 (1,535 mph) Williams eight speed seamless sequential semi-automatic shift plus reverse gear, gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated MAX ALTITUDE above 55,000ft

LENGTH 15.96m FUEL INJECTION High-pressure direct injection (max 500 bar, one injector/cylinder), pressure charging single-stage

compressor and exhaust turbine on a common shaft. Max rpm exhaust turbine 125,000rpm WINGSPAN 10.95m

MAX RPM 15,000 rpm G-LIMITS +9 / -3

BRAKES AP 6 piston front and 4 piston rear calipers with carbon discs and pads PASSIVE SENSORS IRST and LDP

PILOT AIDS Radar, Sensor Fusion, DASS TEMPERATURE Maximum operating temperature of brakes is around 1000°C. WEAPONS CLUTCH Carbon multi-plate Lethal Air Dominance 6x Meteor and 2x SRAAM CHASSIS Monocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb Stealthy Deep Strike 2x Storm Shadow/Taurus Air-Surface Payload 6x smart bombs/12x Brimstone 2

DIMENSIONS Width: 1800mm, Length: 5000mm, Height: 950mm, WHEELS Apptech forged magnesium AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE TYRES Fronts: 245/660-13, Rears: 325/660-13 SUSPENSION Double wishbone, push-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar Carbon Fibre Composites 70% Metals 15% ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS FIA SECU standard electronic control unit Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP) 12% ERS Mercedes AMG HPP Other Materials 3% COOLING SYSTEM Aluminium oil, water and gearbox radiators FUEL SYSTEM ATL, Kevlar-reinforced rubber bladder COCKPIT STEERING Williams power assisted rock and pinion COCKPIT Six point driver safety harness with 75mm shoulder straps & HANS Advanced cockpit design - unique glass cockpit, from the head-up, head-down and head-out systems to all-round vision. system, removable anatomically formed carbon fibre seat 18 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 19 PRECISION ENGINEERING

he first thing you notice about MBDA is shareholder links, specifically BAE Systems, perhaps the classic supplier role of old. the scale of the operation. It’s vast. Airbus and Finmeccanica - Aircraft Devision, Weapons testing programmes are complex by T“MBDA is the first truly integrated who are all part of the Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug their nature and require a great deal of joined defence company in Europe and we provide GmbH Consortium. But in terms of products up thinking and working. Paul describes it as and missile systems for all branches the story starts with the Royal Air Force. a partnership – and one that touches different of the Armed Forces – air, sea and land“, says “The relationship could be considered to levels in the respective organisations. Paul Mead, Group Business Development have started with ASRAAM as the Royal Air “I believe it’s a significant and long-term Director. “We have partnerships with cus - Force’s choice for its infra-red air dominance relationship, with both parties working togeth - tomers throughout the world and are one of missile, but has extended to a whole range of er to produce a ‘total weapon system’. It three global players in the missile sector, the MBDA weapons that fulfil a variety of mission should be seen as a partnership with the ob - other two being based in the USA.” roles”, says Paul. jective of maximising the potential of the To put this in the context of numbers our “The relationship has grown deeper and whole weapon system (aircraft and weapons). order intake in 2015 was Euro 5.2 billion and stronger as the aircraft’s capability has At this stage of the aircraft’s life the partner - that was split as domestically Euro1.6 billion evolved and the demands of the global market ship and relationship has enabled us to keep and export Euro 3.6 billion, with an order book have placed increasing emphasis on the role the aircraft relevant and at the forefront of air of Euro15.1 billion. Although it operates au - of weapons in customers’ decision making. combat capability. tonomously, the Company has the backing of “As a consequence the range of missiles “We also need to recognise that there have our three major shareholders — BAE Systems that MBDA offers for Typhoon has grown to been significant changes in the nature of air The Eurofighter Typhoon is (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and Finmeccanica cover a wide range of missions that includes combat in recent years; the fact that the air - (25%). In terms of our industrial sites, it is lo - air-to-surface weapons such as Brimstone, craft will need to cover a variety of roles and currently in the middle of cated in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK Storm Shadow, Taurus, Marte ER and SPEAR that the weapon systems integrated onto it and the US, with 10,000 employees, the ma - and air-to-air missiles such as ASRAAM and must also meet future combat requirements. one of the most important jority of whom are engineers. Meteor. The result is that MBDA’s products “Customers also expect system level solu - MBDA has longstanding links with the bring combat capabilities that no other missile tions to comprise of highly integrated elements periods of its life. Blessed Eurofighter programme, sharing an industrial company can offer on Typhoon.” in order to meet their training, operation and heritage with the consortium partners that The relationship between the Eurofighter support needs across the life cycle. Working from inception with incredi - make up Eurofighter through its own industrial programme and MBDA is far closer than with Eurofighter has enabled all of us to meet >> ble performance charac ter - istics, it has evolved into a world beating platform thanks to a capability pro - gramme that is putting weapons integration centre stage. In this edition of Eurofighter WORLD , we take a closer look at the work of missile specialists MBDA and how their rela - tionship with Eurofighter has developed. >>

Eurofighter Typhoon with ASRAAM, Brimstone, Storm Shadow, SPEAR and Meteor 20 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 21

>> PRECISION ENGINEERING

 Meteor in flight © MBDA UK Ltd

these challenges. The partnership must there - “P2E will also provide strategic precision fore operate at various levels; from establishing strike capability through the Storm Shadow the capability requirements of the overall missile, whilst P3E then introduces Brimstone. weapon system, a combined strategy to Brimstone brings a unique Close Air Support support these and the delivery of effective capability with its dual mode seeker able to capabilities to time, cost and in line with oper - engage moving and manoeuvring targets with ator expectations and beyond. minimal collateral damage. These packages “Only through this partnership are we able to remain at the forefront of global air combat capability for the benefit of both our home, ex - isting and future export customers. Therefore limiting the description and nature of MBDA as a classic supplier would not be appropriate; especially considering the added value that our products give to this outstanding aircraft.” The past few months has seen the Eurofighter programme make progress in a number of different areas, with several testing programmes taking place simultaneously. Not surprisingly MBDA has been playing a promi - nent role. “Modern combat aircraft are called upon to fulfil a multitude of missions, increasingly in the one overall mission. This is why the con - cept of a ‘swing-role’ capability is so critical”, says Paul. “MBDA is best placed with its also lay the foundations for future growth in benefitting from the addition of a turbojet to fire their own missiles. In turn, the upcoming European footprint, broad product portfolio both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles.” engage vessels at greater range minimising E-SCAN radar is going to provide a step and strength in export to provide customers MBDA is working closely with all of the the threat from naval air defence systems. change in the sensor package that will unlock with the optimum weapon capability for the in - Eurofighter Partner Companies to help deliver The intention is that these and other pro - the full potential of our missiles, especially creasingly sophisticated threat environment. these programmes within a challenging envi - grammes will sustain Typhoon to the middle Meteor. ronment and to the timescale required by the of this century. “Typhoon is also a great ‘load carrier’ with customers. On both P2E and P3E, MBDA and While there is a partnership at a very its powerful engines and big wings. This gives Brimstone in flight © MBDA  the Partner Companies have worked closely to human level with daily interactions there’s it the added benefit of being able to carry define the technical solution, schedule and another vital relationship at play here too. The some of the heaviest ordnance such as cost of integration to secure an eventual one between the aircraft and weapons. Storm Shadow and Taurus KEPD 350. Both contract award from NETMA. Carrying, deploying, interacting all these missiles are capable of attacking and pene - “The route to contract has made demands aspects have to be carefully considered. The trating hardened or heavily defended targets on all parties. Now that we are actually deliv - considerations are numerous — what differ - at long ranges that ensure the Typhoon pilot MBDA´s SPEAR in flight © MBDA UK Ltd ering the integration programmes we have ence Typhoon’s high kinetic energy and  is beyond harm’s reach. The missile’s flight seen a continuation of this close working; the altitude capability make; how will the interac - “The better the radar and sensor perfor - plan is uploaded before flight and once ASRAAM in flight © MBDA UK Ltd success of which has been evident in the tion between the pilot, aircraft and weapon mance is, (and I include Typhoon‘s FLIR and launched, the Typhoon is free to complete current Storm Shadow and Meteor flight test work; how important is an effective HMI to a DASS systems here) the better the potential other missions or return to base, leaving the “Many of these weapons have been used in programmes”, says Paul. weapons provider in order to get the best firing solution becomes. Cockpit display tech - missiles to navigate their way through to operations with the RAF on Tornado and that “The experience we have gained will now from the weapons. nology, the helmet mounted display and sen - the target. service record will only grow as the Typhoon be applied to future programmes such as “When you consider the relationship sor fusion all have critical parts to play. “This combination of overall aircraft integration process continues. SPEAR and the anti-ship weapon MARTE ER, between missile and aircraft, the aircraft’s “For example, using the PIRATE passive performance and sensor capability gives “We are currently working with Eurofighter for which a specific definition study has performance remains a significant factor in identification and targeting system together Typhoon significant advantages over threat on the delivery of the Phase 2 Enhancement already been started.” the capability of the weapon systems available with the imaging infrared guided ASRAAM; aircraft with a real edge in delivering combat (P2E) and Phase 3 Enhancement (P3E) capa - SPEAR is a medium range, greater than to the pilot. You can’t separate this and in the Eurofighter Typhoon can engage air threats capability. You can therefore understand how bility upgrades. P2E will introduce Meteor, 100km, stand-off precision strike weapon same way the aircraft needs weapon system without the tell-tale signature of search radar. effective and potent a force the combination which will be transformational for the aircraft, able to exploit the future networked battle - solutions to provide the ‘fire power’ for the For longer range engagements where radar of Typhoon with MBDA missiles is. providing an unrivalled No Escape Zone to space with high load-out. MARTE ER will aircraft, the weapons it carries rely on the targeting is required, the CAPTOR radar com - “Together they become a ‘total weapon sys - dominate the Beyond Visual Range combat  Taurus © MBDA equip the aircraft with a maritime strike capa - aircraft to provide targeting data and sensor bined with Meteor gives Typhoon the ability to tem’ that gives our customers the combat capa - mission. bility through the proven Marte heritage, but capability to optimise weapon performance. engage targets before they are in a position to bilities they need in a demanding world.” << 22 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD PRODUCTION PRODUCTION 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 23

In addition to being one of the most capable, Eurofighter is also one of the safest and STAGE B TESTING most reliable fighter aircraft ever built. But consistency and dependability doesn’t happen by accident. When each Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft is built, the production testing teams put the aircraft through a series of rigorous tests. This process occurs PRODUCTION over a number of weeks in the production hangar, before engine ground runs and the first flight tests can take place. >> HOWARD KERR 24 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD PRODUCTION PRODUCTION 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 25

>> STAGE B TESTING PRODUCTION

t’s worth noting that, even before they  Harmonisation - the final task included in craft’s unique mass characteristics. reach this stage, each of the major parts of this phase is harmonising all fixed points These are an important baseline measure Ithe aircraft, the wings, fuselage and so on like the Head-Up Display, the pylons, gun input for the flight control systems. are tested independently. and forward looking infra red (FLIR) and weapon stations.  X-ray: The final FOD check. The aircraft Test Procedures: There are around 100 dif - is X-rayed and examined in the centre ferent test procedures and in each a number Avionics: The next test phase concentrates fuselage and intake areas for any possible of test points need to be checked off. Such a on ensuring the avionics are all working foreign objects that could have been demanding schedule is agreed and managed correctly. These include: lodged internally during the build phase. by Eurofighter to provide consistency across A preventative measure carried out to the fleet. The different tests can be broken  Weapons system reduce risk prior to engine ground run. down into three distinct phases: mechanical,  Communications avionics and final phase.  Flight control surfaces At this stage the final build process also takes  Defensive aids place with the installation of the ejector seat Mechanical: The first phase of the process  Radar checks and canopy. This takes place last in order to is to ensure all the mechanical parts work. minimise the risks of accidents. The ejector They include: seat once installed is live. FINAL PHASE CHECKS Only once the aircraft is given a clean bill  Hydraulics (PLUS SEAT AND CANOPY of health does it leave the assembly hangar  Fuel systems INSTALLATION) and go to the next testing phase.  Environmental systems The time taken to test a Typhoon has dra -  Under carriage and brake system  Symmetry and alignment: Checks matically reduced over the 15 years of produc -  Backlash – a test used for all the primary carried out using laser measuring devices tion. This is not down to short cuts, but based flying controls. This test checks for move- to ensure the accuracy in construction of on the enhanced integral performance of the ment, slip and play in all the aircraft con - the aircraft, measured within 1000ths of aircraft platform, improvement & capability of trol surfaces. Applying load individually a millimetre. test equipment, and lean operating principals to the surface, flaperons, foreplane and generated by a highly skilled workforce. rudder. It is a final check prior to the air -  Weighing: Each aircraft has to be Subtle differences in Final Assembly tech - craft’s Flight Resident Software (FRS) weighed and its centre of gravity (COG) niques do vary across Europe, however the per - taking control. established. This determines the air - formance test element is ultra-consistent. << 26 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 27

‘I’D SAY RACING DRIVERS AND FIGHTER PILOTS HAVE A SIMILAR MENTALITY... ‘

FELIPE MASSA

Photo by: Photograph: Glenn Dunbar/Williams F1., Felipe Massa at Jerez, Spain with Eurofighter Typhoon “Watermark” in the background. © LAT Photographic 28 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD PILOT PILOT 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 29

THE PILOT’S The Helmet: Clearly this offers skull protection and the dark visor protects the eyes from The Jacket: The jacket offers sunlight. The helmet also allows chest counter-pressure. Under G the pilot to communicate on SURVIVAL SUIT force, when required, an inner multiple radio channels and it in - sleeve is filled with air and the corporates the latest Helmet garment squeezes the pilot’s Mounted Symbology System chest cavity. The jacket also in - (HMSS), meaning the pilot can corporates a life jacket that auto- interact with the weapons system inflates when it lands in water. more efficiently. The side pockets are packed with the pilot’s Combat Survival Kit. Amongst other things, this kit in - A quick glance at the typical Eurofighter pilot striding to his cludes items like a radio, a per - sonal weapon, water and local Oxygen Mask: Using computer aircraft doesn’t do justice to the hours of research, specialist currency. On the jacket there are controlled anti-G and breathing a number of different life support support technology, the mask materials and advanced design that’s gone into creating their and oxygen tubes that plug into delivers oxygen at greater con - the aircraft. centrations and at pressure. This life support system. The simple truth is that, pilot safety is a squeezes the pilot’s lungs out at the same time as the trousers number one priority for every air force and a great deal of and jackets are squeezing things Liquid Conditioning Vest: in. It sounds strange but it’s very thought goes into every aspect of keeping them safe and This optional vest is useful for natural once you’ve done it. The extreme conditions. It works like only thing that can take some sound. >> underfloor heating but in a vest, getting used to is talking under liquid tubes in the garment keep ‘pressure breathing’. Pilots have the pilot warm in the extreme to fight against the air coming in cold and cool in the heat. and force words out, plus with the mask on their voice sound a little different! very detail is carefully considered — Anti G Straining Manoeuvres. In essence, just as right down to their socks! The result is the trousers squeeze the legs, the pilots also Ea range of Personal Protective tense their thighs, stomach, chest and arm Equipment designed to ensure a pilot can muscles and they also breath in a short explo - Full-coverage Anti G cope with the rigours of flying at high G, as sive way. All this squeezes their veins and rais - Trousers: well as surviving in demanding and potential - es their blood pressure. To prepare for Anti G In Typhoon these differ from ly hostile situations. Straining Manoeuvres they spend hours in the Knee Pockets: These can hold traditional anti-G trousers gym working on their anaerobic and aerobic emergency cards detailing proce - because they offer far more cov - WHY AN ANTI-G SUIT: fitness, as well as their core strength with dures, as well as providing stor - erage, hence the name. They are Without the suits, the pilot’s blood would pool Pilates techniques. age for mission related material. worn with special anti-G socks into their feet and legs when the aircraft pulls that ‘plug’ into the trousers. G and the pressure would make it too hard for Material: All the clothing is fire retardant as They’re made with a bladder that the heart to pump fresh oxygenated blood up well as offering nuclear, biological, and chem - automatically fills with air (bleed to their brain. This is clearly dangerous. ical (NBC) protection. air from the engines) when the Without enough blood going to the head the Boots: Special issue flame retar - aircraft pulls G. Tightly fitted in pilot would black out. In fact, most untrained The Layers: Underneath the anti-G jacket dant boots, offer ankle protec - normal conditions, when the people black out if they experience between 4 and trousers the pilots wear an emersion suit tion, but also dexterity for flight bladders inflate, the pilot’s legs and 5G. The anti-G suit squeezes the legs, which is like a diver’s dry suit and protects control. They also feature an anti and stomach are squeezed even stomach and chest tight, meaning the blood them from hyperthermia if they land in water. FOD sole — which means foreign tighter. Like the jackets, the isn’t allowed to pool and has more pressure to Under that they have thermal wear. Finally, objects, bits of debris and so on, anti-G trousers are adjusted to feed the brain. The squeezing doesn’t hurt they have cotton underwear which offers aren’t carried into the cockpit. measure, and are bespoke to and pilots say they quickly get used to what’s both comfort and an extra layer of thermal each pilot. An initial fitting takes initially a ‘strange’ feeling. insulation. around 30 minutes as both the trousers and jackets are adjusted Anti-G Straining: Pilots are also trained to The Ejector Seat: The seat includes a person - just like a corset. Once they’ve work their bodies in the same way as the suits al survival pack, which has all sorts of survival had that first fitting, experienced and ‘squeeze from within.’ These are known as equipment, including a one man dingy. << pilots can put on their ‘suits of armour’ with relative ease. 30 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER EUROFIGHTER 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 31

perating at greater than the speed of The sun is a glaring ball sound, every moment brings him clos - Oer to the oil refinery that’s his target. THE EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON of heat, the blast of the He’s been tasked with making this key enemy site inoperable, while all around him a ground engines a constant offensive rumbles. Then, within the blink of an eye, JT’s mission is turned on its head. His accompaniment, but radio has crackled into life and now JT has COMBAT EDGE multiple objectives. There are hostiles in the nothing can shake ‘JT’, air looking for him and the primary target get - ting closer. The ground targets have multiplied our Eurofighter Typhoon too. At Mach 1.6 you’re travelling at 16 miles per minute. Seconds equal closure; time pilot out of the zone. >> taken to process information is critical. It’s now about making the right choices. Assess the threats and work out the priorities. Fast. JT stays calm but the adrenaline is pumping. ‘What to do now? What do you know? What’s going on out there?’ Rapidly he makes sense of the new orders and works out how he’s going to achieve them. The cockpit radio comes to life sporadical - ly — messages are being intermittently jammed — chatter then silence, then a man - gled voice again. Half sentences, possible warnings add to the confusion. But JT remains a picture of calm. His Eurofighter is a highly capable tool when mis - sions get critical. It sniffs out the danger, scanning the skies while simultaneously map - ping the ground, seeking out threats and friendlies, targets and decoys. Seven sensors work together and instantly give JT an Ultra 4K view of the battle space. At speeds in excess of 1,000 mph, huge amounts of information come into the aircraft and each piece is regis - tered, distilled, combined and then presented. JT knows where he is, where the threats are and crucially what to do next. He stays ahead of the game. And by having that advantage he can make it mission accomplished . >> 32 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER EUROFIGHTER 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 33

>> COMBAT EDGE

1. RADAR 2. STRIKER II 3. MIDS THE FUSION SUITE Captor-E is the future primary An incredibly sophisticated digi - MIDS is an advanced data link — sensor on Eurofighter Typhoon tal innovation, Striker II is a a Multi-functional digital Infor- and has a full suite of air-to-air Helmet Mounted Display system mation Distribution System — and air-to-surface modes. The (HMD) that’s believed to be just that allows the aircraft to WHAT IS THE COMBAT EDGE? Captor-E’s optimised array about the most advanced hel - securely exchange real-time brings with it a Field of Regard met ever devised. The pilot can data between a wide variety of  Cutting-edge sensors that’s 50 per cent wider than use it to cue weapons, it dis - users, including air force and, Intelligently fused traditional fixed plate systems. plays HUD-information through where appropriate, land and  This gives significant benefits in 360° and the integrated sensor naval forces. It’s high speed, Cutting through the fog of war both air-to-air and air-to-surface delivers wide field of view night high capacity, secure and jam  engagements and combined vision. The digital design of resistant. For the pilot it means Unique HMI delivering a complete, with the large antenna aperture Striker II means it’s safer and the ability to share and receive  coherent picture provides the pilot with much en - creates less fatigue than the information from other users in hanced coverage compared to legacy Night Vision Goggles that their network. This information superiority allows fixed plate systems. It has a it replaces.  the Typhoon pilot to dominate unique combination of reposi - the battlespace tioner and large antenna; greater power and sensitivity; and can carry out multiple con - current air and surface tracking tasks.

7. DASS The Defensive Aids Sub-Systems comprises wingtip Electronic Support Measures and Elec- tronic Counter Measures pods (ESM/ECM), missile warners, chaff and flare dispensers and a laser warner. As well as detect- 4. PIRATE 5. IFF 6. LITENING/DAMOCLES/ ing threats, the system gives the The PIRATE infrared sensor pro - Identification Friend or Foe. The SNIPER pilot manoeuvre cues, coordi- vides air-to-air target detection interrogator confirms the pres - These are advanced Targeting nated with automatic jamming and tracking performance in the ence (or absence) of friendly and Recce pods. Day or night and optional deployment of Infra-Red Search and Tracking assets, while the transponder they enable: precision targeting decoys to deliver unrivalled (IRST) mode for covert tracking. ensures the allies know we’re I at range, the generation of coor - survivability. Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) am a friendly. The IFF works to dinates, hi-res imagery and ad - mode gives hi-res imagery day current and future standards — vanced reconnaissance features or night. making it effective regardless of including detection of ground the age of the other aircraft. and air targets.

THE FUSION SUITE Sensors are continously evolving but it’s when SENSING STEALTH an essential aid to survivability in some accurate enough to cue weapons against a pilot can zoom right in and specifically target Eurofighter Typhoon is at the forefront of sen - you combine that in an intelligent way you A low radar cross section (or stealthy) air scenarios. Fusing the most accurate track specific moving target when accuracy and a ground feature or moving ground target, sor fusion technology and its sensor suite have a significant advantage. Each sensor pro - threat will minimise radar returns, reducing elements from each sensor ensures that the updates are important. The laser designator rapidly with ease. continues to be upgraded to deliver enhanced vides different pieces of information that are the range at which the radar will detect it. pilot has complete situational awareness. pod provides a very detailed picture, but it’s detection and decision-making. Combining intelligently fused to give the Typhoon pilot a However, through the fusion of its other sen - also akin to looking through a straw, so the SENSOR FUSION IS TRULY SPECIAL the data from key sensors gives the pilot unri - complete, coherent picture of the entire bat - sors Typhoon can still detect and target low RAPID AND PRECISE GROUND TARGETING straw needs to be pointed in the right place. In Eurofighter is famed for its performance and valled ability to rapidly assess the overall tac - tlespace. To understand what that means it’s RCS threats at tactically useful ranges. This The fused output of datalinks, radar and DASS Typhoon, a pilot can instantaneously cue the handling — combining huge amounts of thrust tical situation and respond effectively to worth looking at a couple of scenarios where can be done entirely passively when neces - gives the pilot a great overall picture of the pod from his fused tactical display or using from its twin EJ200 engines with incredible threats. different sensors come to the fore. sary (ie without any emissions). This may be tactical scenario. However, this may not be the Striker Helmet. With that taken care of the agility. What it’s perhaps less well known is >> 34 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER EUROFIGHTER 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 35

>> COMBAT EDGE

its brain power when things really get inter - STRIKER II HELMET esting. Fusing the information together from its different sensors is crucial when the pilot needs to take mission critical decisions. It’s one of the things that makes Typhoon truly special. This sensor fusion is what gives the air - craft what we call the Combat Edge. And that’s why pilots love it. When you’re in the the heat of battle, every second, every frac - PIRATE tion of a second, is absolutely crucial, because it means distance to the enemy. Ultimately it makes the difference between mission success and failure. Each of the aircraft’s various sensors have unique qualities, but it’s difficult to rank them in terms of importance because it depends on the scenario a combat pilot finds himself in. In truth Combat Edge is not about individual parts but how they all come CAPTOR-E RADAR together to serve the pilot. “At any one time during a mission the pilot receives an awfully large amount of information,” says Eurofighter’s Paul Smith, himself a former RAF pilot. “In legacy aircraft, a pilot has to pull together each of these threats to assemble a picture of the battlespace in their head. Typhoon presents the pilot with a complete coherent picture - DASS freeing up capacity to make more rapid and (in flare dispense mode) effective tactical decisions. “In one sense it’s about reducing the pilot’s workload. Taking away some of the things they’ve previously had to process themself in the cockpit. For example, the pilot doesn’t need to try to work out whether the aircraft out there is friend or foe, because the aircraft is able to do it for them”, adds Paul. “So no matter what scenario — air-to-air, air-to-ground, or complex swing role - Typhoon uses its various sensors to give the pilot a true picture of every - thing that’s going on around them. This awareness is not just down to the cutting edge design of each sensor but the unique way the aircraft displays that fused picture to the pilot.” So that’s the Combat Edge. A battle space that is often chaotic and confused, is “EUROFIGHTER IS FAMED FOR ITS PERFORMANCE... given clarity. A Eurofighter pilot knows they can maintain the information superiority ...WHAT'S LESS WELL KNOW IS ITS BRAIN POWER.” that allows domination of the air, land and sea environments. << 36 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EXERCISE EXERCISE 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 37 ITALIAN TYPHOONS PLAY KEY ROLE IN EXERCISE TRIDENT JUNCTURE

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY GIOVANNI COLLA

Italian Air Force Typhoon squadrons proved their worth when they took to the skies as part of the largest NATO exercise since 2002.

onsidered by many the most important The Italian Air Force deployed six out-of-area crisis response mission. Events in During LIVEX, Italy participated mostly with tion of enemy air power, with attacks on air - and time on station thanks to the ITAF military operation since the fall of the Eurofighters to Trapani Air Base (two from 4th the exercise ranged from the effects of air components (Command and Control, with ports and the destruction of ground air missile KC-767 and USAFE KC-135 which were CBerlin Wall, there’s no doubt that Wing, two from 36th Wing and two from 37th subversion and terrorist attacks to convention - the new certificate JFACC National Poggio systems; the recovery of isolated personnel, deployed in an Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) role. Trident Juncture (TRJE15) was a great test for Wing) plus two additional Typhoons for back al warfare, cyber-attacks, hybrid warfare and Renatico, Combat, F2000, Tornado and AMX, for example an ejection in enemy territory; the TRJE15 was the culmination of a series of NATO. up provided by the local 37th Wing. They flew humanitarian crisis. Combat Support, C130, KC767, Predator, neutralisation of enemy naval power, attack - dynamic and demanding training events The facts alone are staggering. It mobilised as many as 12 training missions a day (6+6), Components from air, maritime, land and AB212 and HH139; and Combat Service ing military ships or destroying naval missile designed to train the troops of the NRF, test over 36,000 troops – from air, land and mar - day and night in a range of scenarios. Special Forces carried out missions simultane - Support), deploying in the field all the air capa - systems; plus the safe supply of transport air - the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force itime forces – from more than 30 allied and The exercise took place from the 3 ously, in different areas. This included much of bilities available, launching air operations, craft, persons, or property, as in the case of (VJTF) and enhance NATO’s readiness, flexi - partner nations and 12 international, govern - October to 6 November 2015. Part One (3-16 Mediterranean Europe, and involved leader - mainly from the air base of Trapani Birgi. exfiltration of compatriots from a territory bility and interoperability in response to a mental and non-governmental organisations. October) tested the command and control ship from several different headquarters. The Air Power element saw packages of which has become hostile. changed security environment and to chal - They came together in 16 locations across elements of the NATO Response Force (NRF) Through TRJE15, NATO also effectively several aircraft, assigned to a single mission Throughout the exercise the Italian F2000 lenges from the south and the east. Italy, Spain and Portugal to train, exercise and and showcased NATO’s ability to work with demonstrated the ability to integrate with non- aim known as COMAO (Composite Air provided air superiority with the ability to It proved the readiness of the NRF for learn from one another. external actors. Part Two (21 October-6 military structures, such as international or - Operations). Each aircraft brought its own neutralise enemy air power (aircraft and mis - mobilisation; the exercise also tested the As part of TRJE15, Eurofighter Typhoon air - November) was a LIVEX — Live Exercise — pro - ganisations, and non-governmental organisa - capability to the fore. siles) making it ineffective for a certain time integration of the allied forces, as well as craft from the Italian Air Force 4th Wing of viding training opportunities that are not tions. This demonstrated a willingness to con - The Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon and location, in order to allow all the 'friend' their interoperability. Put simply TRJE15 Grosseto, 36th Wing of Gioia del Colle and 37th found in most national exercises. tinue to contribute to a comprehensive ap - aircraft that took part in the exercise, and — operations from land, sea and air. demonstrated the effectiveness and efficien - Wing of Trapani provided Defensive Counter Air The exercise was based on a scenario that proach, in the resolution of international with their partners — had a number of objec - For the entire exercise the Italian cy of NATO. << and Offensive Counter Air capacity. involved the use of military capabilities in an crises. tives to fulfil. These included: the neutralisa - Typhoons were able to extend their range 38 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD THIRD PARTY VIEW THIRD PARTY VIEW 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 39 BATTLESPACE:

nd, just as the aircraft has changed so discussed, is that a good fighter pilot always A CHANGING too has the world in which it operates. assesses the battlespace and plays the odds. ASo, in this edition of Eurofighter WORLD Sometimes you might want that excess pow - we speak to Tim Robinson the Editor-in-Chief of er-to-weight to run away, or disengage, from Aerospace , the magazine of the Royal superior numbers and come back another day Aeronautical Society, to see how he assesses with your mates. WORLD Eurofighter’s role in this new world order. What difference do you think it will make The battlespace has changed dramatically for the Eurofighter having AESA onboard, over the past decade or so, how important coupled with Brimstone, Paveway IV, do you think it is to have flexibility in a Meteor and Storm Shadow? And will this fighter jet and why is that? change battlespace engagement? Since coming into service Immeasurably. Who would have thought 20 The in-service Captor radar as it stands is a years ago that in 2016, NATO air arms would be highly capable piece of kit, but the prolifera - the Eurofighter Typhoon regularly scrambling in the Baltics, undertaking tion of AESA radars mean that recent moves to counterinsurgency operations in Africa and upgrade it to the coming Captor-E is very wel - has matured, its capability fighting a terror-state with unbelievably com - come from a capability and a sales standpoint. plex airspace and potentially a high risk of es - Moreover, the Eurofighter’s large nose means has been enhanced and calation over Syria? So today there is no such when the Captor-E radar does enter service, it luxury as a single-role aircraft for budget-con - should be one of the best fighter radars its reputation among the scious air forces – all assets need to pull their around. For AESAs, I am told by experts, that weight. And the extremely long development the more T/R modules you can fit in the nose, air forces that use ‘her’ times of modern combat aircraft means that all the better the performance (resolution and conflicts now are ‘come as you are’. There is range) of the radar. So Captor-E should be an has grown. >> simply no time for any grand WW2 rearmament outstanding fighter radar. plan before the next crisis erupts. Having a flex - Second, there is another advantage in AESA ible, adaptable fighter to begin with, before the too, in that it allows simultaneous ‘inter - next crisis starts, is therefore key. leaved’ operation in both air and ground modes. This, I believe, will truly justify the What value do you think a good power-to- ‘swing-role’ marketing tag and is especially weight ratio is and having weapons and useful for the single-seat pilot to be able to sensors that have above average reach? know the sky ahead is clear, while, for exam - Well the classic view is you can turn a decent ple, prosecuting ground targets. air superiority fighter into a good fighter Finally, another underappreciated (and for obvi - bomber, but not the other way round. Hence ous reasons not discussed too much in open the success of the F-15 Strike Eagle, the F-16 sources) about AESA radars is the possibilities and Su-27/30/25 families. I’ll not name they give you for electronic warfare attack. names but I guess we can all think of some ex - With the EW environment becoming ever more amples where trying to adapt bombers into contested and vital – this AESA jammer func - fighters have failed. tion adds another key capability to Eurofighter. Excess power-to-weight gets you all the good stuff that jet jockeys love – rapid acceleration, How important do you think having good phenomenal climb rates, speed – but also the defensive aids and an intuitive human ma - ability to lift heavier loads if you want to stick chine interface are? air-to-ground weapons on it. Why is this im - You only have to look at recent events in Syria portant? The higher and faster you go then the and the loss of a Russian AF Su-24 to see what more kinetic ‘throw’ you can impart weapons, happens when your defensive aids and situa - especially in air-to-air missiles, and the better tional awareness aren’t up to scratch. The cost the range you give the ‘spear’. Pairing the of combat aircraft today and the political fallout Eurofighter’s superb high-altitude perfor - of any lost/captured aircrew mean that we are mance, (I’ve never been able to tempt a pilot well past an age where losses could be to reveal its true ceiling) supercruise abili - shrugged off. ties and a long-range beyond visual range The consensus is that the Eurofighter’s missile like Meteor will, I think, end up with Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS) - which a phenomenal weapon system. includes ECM, flares and towed decoy – is TIM ROBINSON In fact, even though the US has absolutely extremely good, giving the pilot enhanced sur - Editor in Chief of Aerospace giant training areas in Nevada and so on, vivability and situational awareness. Indeed, where they can invite allies to Red Flag, I sus - in Libya in 2011 (and reportedly over Syria to - pect that supercruising Typhoons and Meteors day) the RAF flew ‘mixed pairs’ of Typhoons and may end up bumping the edges of the ranges. Tornados, with the Tornado crews benefiting One final point, and one which is seldom from flying with a fighter with high-quality >> 40 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD THIRD PARTY VIEW THIRD PARTY VIEW 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 41

>> BATTLESPACE: A CHANGING WORLD

situational awareness and a power air-to-air workout, while talking to a friend on a mobile will along with the HMD enable a Eurofighter the world (an USAF General I believe rated the training, standards and common equipment. way for F-35s to hit the most heavily defended radar. phone, and perhaps solving an IQ puzzle at the pilot to target, fire crank (evade) and keep track Typhoon as number two) still lacks an HMD. In Eurofighter’s case the aircraft already has a ground targets, or using them to distract the en - An intuitive HMI or cockpit is also important same time – then it’s clear how important an of the enemy in a phase of the BVR fight where huge advantage in interoperability terms with emy while the F-35s sneak past, the possibili - these days. With ‘carefree handling’ and FBW, intuitive cockpit is. usually the choice is 1) drive straight into the How important do you think interoperability six nations already flying it. However, the future ties are endless and present any adversary with the challenge today is not to fly the aircraft but merge (and risk getting shot down yourself) or is in this environment and do you see advan - could be even more exciting. Though exercise huge challenges: Do I focus on the supercruis - to fight with it and understand the battlespace When you combine HMSS with enhanced 2) crank, to put yourself in the ‘notch’ zone with tages in the mixed fleets that both Italy and results are naturally classified, it has been an ing high-altitude threat or do I try and hunt the around you. The colour MFDs, easy to interpret weapons capability, do you think this will regard to the enemy’s incoming missile, but, in the UK have opted for? open secret that warfighters, when seeing Low Observable (LO) strikers? symbology and helmet mounted display (HMD) give Eurofighter distinctive and unique doing so lose track of your missile and bandit. Interoperability has been a buzzword since at what the Eurofighter and F-22 can do when For nations that are lucky enough to afford are all vital tools. capabilities? In short, it will allow Typhoon pilots to ‘stand- least the 1990s when the Gulf War and Balkans teamed together in Red Flag, are positively both, like Italy and the UK it will be a real game Though I have only ‘flown’ the Eurofighter sim - The HMD already allows a Typhoon pilot to ‘look off’, take more lethal shots, at longer range, conflicts highlighted the challenges of allies drooling with anticipation to discover and de - changer in air warfare tactics; but even if you ulator so far – my experience from other fast and kill’ with a short-range missile like ASRAAM while reducing the risk to themselves. It’s working together. Today, after Afghanistan, Iraq, velop joint Eurofighter/F-35 tactics. For the only have one, the likelihood is you are going to jet flights is that non-fighter pilots frequently or IRIS-T for off-boresight shots. I think the most going to allow the Eurofighter pilot to dominate and Libya, it is expected that everyone should UK and Italy this is likely to be a massive jump be in coalition with the other in the future and underestimate how physically demanding interesting aspect is that the wide-angle radar the engagement. It’s also worth noting, that the be able to plug into a coalition or alliance. This in air warfare to have these support and com - therefore everyone is likely to benefit. >> flying a fast jet is. If you imagine a tough scan zone, more than 90 degrees to the sides, F-22, the number one air dominance fighter in doesn’t just happen by accident; it’s about plement each other. Using Typhoons to clear the

“PAIRING THE EUROFIGHTER’S SUPERB HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE, SUPERCRUISE ABILITIES AND A LONG-RANGE BEYOND VISUAL RANGE MISSILE LIKE METEOR WILL, I THINK, END UP WITH A PHENOMENAL WEAPON SYSTEM...”

Photograph: Wg Cdr Eklund © Crown Copyright UK MOD 2015 42 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD THIRD PARTY VIEW THIRD PARTY VIEW 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 43

>> BATTLESPACE: A CHANGING WORLD

What other considerations do you think change during the campaign but the jet didn’t I think another misperception is that stealth or buy to a single squadron. So that seems to tell six current operators. A seventh operator, 2040 – (almost 70 years since first flight!) it should be taken into account when need it. That speaks volumes about the LO combat aircraft has made everything else me that the majority of air threats are likely to Oman, has signed up and an eighth is expect - may be that the Eurofighter Typhoon eventually assessing Eurofighter’s future role in a aircraft’s robustness. And clearly when you obsolete. As the last pre-stealth gen 4.5 fight - come from variants of the Flanker family over ed to do so soon. That is a huge installed base remains in service until the 2060s! changing battlespace environment? assess the future, having a reliable, depend - er, I think Eurofighter suffers from a kind of the next 20 years – a combat aircraft that the – far bigger than Rafale (over 140) and F-22 Integration of new weapons but also an MLU It’s often under-appreciated that Eurofighter able asset is crucial — but not something you neglect of its capabilities. Today we live in an Eurofighter was explicitly designed to beat. As (187). Only the F-35 is going to beat that in in the 2020s, which could include cockpit Typhoon is now a mature weapons system. I can take for granted. attention-deficit world and the focus is always long as the future. enhancements (augmented reality displays, remember first covering it more than a decade on ‘what’s the next shiny thing’. (And I hold my no-one decides to starve the Typhoon of up - eye tracking/gesture controls), conformal ago when it was entering into service. During Where do you think the biggest areas of hand up as a member of the media partly re - grades – I don’t see why its supremacy can’t Is there anything else you would like tanks etc means it still will be potent well into Case White in 2003 some of the diagnostic ignorance are when people assess the sponsible). Stealth is obviously important and continue. to add? the future. Indeed, one can fully imagine that systems needed tweaks — all part of the usual value of the Eurofighter Typhoon as part you wouldn’t design a clean sheet fighter to - For tomorrow’s SAM threats I believe the Only Eurofighter is really still at the beginning a 2030-40 Eurofighter pilot might be flying as bedding-in of a combat aircraft. of the future force mix? day without it – but a balanced approach like Typhoon will still be relevant by working with of its evolution. If you consider the F-15E a battlespace commander role – flying with It is now a mature weapons system, with char - One of my favourite criticisms was ‘Ohh it’s Eurofighter, effective training and tactics and allied LO fighters like F-35s, using stand-off Strike Eagle – widely seen as the West’s pre - robotic AI UCAVs – and using them to clear a acteristics that are well understood and, with just a Cold War white elephant’ – well if we are regular upgrades will still keep it relevant. weapons (Storm Shadow/SPEAR 3) and even - mier fighter-bomber – the prototype F-15A path to high-value targets or act as airborne six nations operating it, there is a whole load in a new Cold War with state vs state tensions Because, for stealth, whether its F-35, PAK-FA tually even UCAV wingmen. first flew in 1972, some 44 years ago. The reloads. UAVs and drones may be a growing of experience to draw upon. So from a sup - – it seems to have arrived at the right time! To or even Chinese J-20s, it could be many years I also think people tend to forget just how multi-role F-15E Strike Eagle meanwhile en - part of the future but the high-stakes air–to- portability and maintainability aspect it has be fair, this sort of argument, where people before they appear in large numbers in the many Eurofighters are in service with part - tered services in 1989. So if we compare the air battle – a combination of chess, boxing, really begun to prove itself and early teething were constantly calculating how many Super battlespace. The high cost means that few na - ner nations – especially when we get caught Typhoon with that, it appears to me that the car racing and video games, means the fight - problems are now behind it. Operation Ellamy Tucanos for COIN you could buy for one tions will be able to afford large numbers of up in the ‘new and potential orders’ game Eurofighter is still only around about 1991 in er pilot’s job is likely to be one of the last to over Libya in 2011 proved that — I remember Eurofighter has somewhat disappeared – after them for the foreseeable future. Even Russia, where every sale is a ‘must win’. Over 470 air - Strike Eagle development. Given the US now fall. As Chuck Yeager once said “It’s the man, hearing that the UK RAF carried out an engine the shock of Ukraine and Crimea. developing the PAK-FA has reduced its initial craft have now been delivered and there are wants the Eagle/Strike Eagle to serve until not the machine”. << 44 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER PEOPLE EUROFIGHTER PEOPLE 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 45

processes, tools and resources are in place to generate the right ways of working to max - imise effectiveness and motivation, his has FIGHTING not always been an office job. Indeed, his active background in the Spanish Air Force, his knowledge of Baltic Air Patrols and his links with Eurofighter and NETMA all mean the Brigadier is now a natur - TALK al choice as a speaker for a fighter confer - ence. Asked why anyone would be interested in hearing from NETMA, he said: “NETMA plays an important role sustaining Typhoon as a A Brigadier, who led the first Spanish Air Force deployment of world class fighter.” says the Brigadier. “It is the backbone of air defence across our na - Eurofighters on Baltic Air Patrol, was a key speaker at a tions as multirole aircraft which will be in service for decades to come. NETMA pro - London Fighter Conference, where he told delegates about the vides a management service, delivering through-life support and capability enhance - crucial role the Eurofighter Typhoon was playing in protecting ment to satisfy our customer’s current and future operational needs. In short, the work national interests, the value of simulation training – and the of NETMA contributes to a reliable and safe Eurofighter Weapons System.” value of pre-deployment exercises. >> It’s exactly that reliability and built-in safety that has led to the Eurofighter Typhoon being seen as the system of choice BRIGADIER for those requiring a robust and capable deterrent. And it is this that the Brigadier JAVIER DEL CID DE LEON sees as its key value supporting NATO’s Air NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency Policing in Europe. ETMA’s Brigadier Javier Del Cid De “NATO Air Policing is important because it Leon gave the Conference a unique demonstrates a common commitment and Ninsight into Eurofighter Typhoon’s role mutual cooperation among the different in the Baltic Air Patrol (BAP) and in the prepa - nation states involved. rations required. It’s a subject he knows much “The NATO definition of the role is clear. about. He was the Detachment Chief of the NATO Air Policing is a peacetime mission first Spanish Air Force deployment in the which requires an Air Surveillance and region and was also the ALBACETE Air Base Control System (ASACS), an Air Command commander in Spain for the handover from and Control (Air C2) structure and Quick Mirage F-1 to Eurofighter. Reaction Alert (Interceptor) aircraft to be It’s little wonder the Brigadier could capti - available on a 24/7 basis. vate his audience in London as Eurofighter “This enables the Alliance to detect, track WORLD can now reveal in this personal profile and identify to the greatest extent possible – the love of flying runs in his Spanish blood. all aerial objects approaching or operating And his interest in aviation began when he within NATO airspace so that violations and was just a child… infringements can be recognised and appro - “I remember building my first model priate action taken. CV HIGHLIGHTS aircraft when I was a 10-year-old. After that I “The Spanish Air Force fully understands filled my parents’ house, and later my own the need to collaborate in all NATO missions.  Fighter school as flying instructor home, with a vast array of radio controlled The first time it took part in the Baltic Air  Operational (Captain) at Albacete AFB flying and static models. I joined the Spanish Air Patrol with Eurofighter was from ALA 11- Mirage F1 Force when I was 17 (in 1976) and I flew, for Morón Air Base. It was a logistic challenge  International ops – Bosnia, Kosovo the first time in my life, in 1978. Even now, af - more than an operational one.  NATO tour at Airsouth HQ, Naples (IT) ter 40 years and more than 4,000 flying  First SPAF Baltic Air Patrol Detachment hours, I still love to fly.” How suitable does he think Eurofighter Chief – Siauliai, Lithuania Today, as NETMA’s Division Leader for Typhoon is for the BAP role?  Air Base and Wing Commander — 14th Wing, Business Management, Javier heads three Albacete, during the handover from sections of the organisation, managing “There is no doubt that the Eurofighter is the Mirage F-1 to Eurofighter Sqn around 35 people. He’s in charge of HR, secu - best aircraft out there today for Air Policing rity, agency support, IT and business improve - missions like this. What you need is reliability, ment and performance. simplicity in the pre-take off procedures; high While his current role is to support the performance to reach operational ceiling and management of the NETMA business, ensur - speed; good and reliable communication with ing that appropriate strategies, policies, the C2 system; and sensors that provide the >> 46 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER PEOPLE EUROFIGHTER PEOPLE 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 47

>> FIGHTING TALK

pilot with a clear situation awareness for the Asked what NATO and the Spanish Air in the real aircraft would be impossible to data processing mission for aircraft detection Netherlands, Spain & UK) organisation which Finally, we asked the Brigadier what he purpose of identification. And, if the situation Force have learned about the threats and reproduce before deployment. doubts / errors / shortcomings, etc.), allow - develops suitable ideas and initiatives into honestly thought the future will hold for the requires, reliable and efficient air-to-air activities during their patrol time in the “In total 50 missions were developed for ing them to prepare any missions in the exer - projects with the aim of producing useable Eurofighter Typhoon? weapons. Baltics, the Brigadier said: “It’s a combination the pilots involved in the Spanish Air Force cise faster and more effectively.” end-products that promote interoperability “Our nations are betting on Eurofighter as “It’s also worth making a special mention of things — responsibility, interoperability, the deployment. These missions, in total hours As the Brigadier explained when he spoke between the Group and partner air forces the main air weapon system for the next of the Eurofighter’s EJ200 engines. They pro - ability to maintain high readiness status, represent a time of flight of approximately 75 in London, it is not just the simulator training (Norway & Sweden). It may also assist other decades. There are technical and financial vide the combination of low maintenance, strong Air Command and control chain. These per cent of the actual hours flown. This is a that helps pilots prepare for real-life deploy - organisations. solutions that will give us a fleet of high reliability and easy handling that’s patrols bring the same rules of engagement huge saving on real flying time costs. There’s ment, it is major exercises like ‘Vulcanex 15’. Eurofighters with the operational capabilities essential in this work.” but in a different scenario. Of course the no doubt that ASTA was needed for this and The aim of Vulcanex 15 was to strengthen So how proud is the Brigadier of what required by the four nations. “Working in the Baltic means we have Baltic Patrol also means learning to work in will be needed for future missions. Eurofighter/Typhoon interoperability and NETMA, the Spanish Air Force and the been able to operate in extreme weather con - winter weather conditions.” “It really helped us. Pre-deployment simu - standardisation between the *European Air Eurofighter Typhoon have done with “The Meteor, Storm Shadow, Brimstone ditions in winter time. This is a challenge not And, like other air forces before them, prior lator flying means the pilots can focus on the Group (EAG) nations through the use of com - regard to Baltic Air Patrols? and new radar will equip the Eurofighter with only for the aircraft but for the entire team to the deployment of the Spanish Air Force to domestic aspects: local procedures, commu - mon Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). It the swing role capability necessary for the involved in the detachment. We are far away the Baltics, they made use of The Aircrew nications sequence, instrument approaches, was also to familiarise ground crews with oth - “It is mission accomplished.” he said. “We future. NETMA and Eurofighter are continuing from our home base which is why a good Synthetic Training Aids (ASTA) programme to familiarity with the work area, and so on. er nation’s Aircraft Ground Equipment, with now have common goals and we are continu - to work together to ensure we deliver the logistic plan is vital. help prepare. “It also allows the deployments to arrive their “turn around” procedures and their dif - ing to demonstrate that we have a value. In best operational aircraft both now and in the “The Eurofighter and the crews involved “In my view ASTA proved itself as an essen - with much more preparation and knowledge, ferent approaches to Quick Reaction Alert fact, in January this year, another Spanish Air future. Of course challenges will occur, but have the experience. The aircraft is on duty tial tool for complex training exercises,” says as crews have undergone a process of plan - work. Force Eurofighter detachment, this time from we are committed to solving them day by day, 24/7 with our four nations covering almost all the Brigadier, “because it allowed training ning and implementation (documentation, cal - *The European Air Group (EAG) is a seven the ALBACETE Air Base, 14th WING will be on and I am confident we will meet those NATO area of responsibility.” situations and missions to be carried out that culations of time / fuel tactical assessment, nation (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, deployment. I wish them the best.” challenges.” <<

...AND NOW HE HAS BUILT THIS!

How long did it take you to build it? Start 10 October 2007 / Airworthiness certification 27 March 2012 / First flight 02 June 2012. All day-to-day works recorded in a book with more than 2800 photos. Where do you keep it? Last August 2014 I flew with my wife from Albacete (SP) to LANDSHUT (EDML) north of Munich (5 flying hours). Now it is hangered in Landshut. What do you do with it? I fly all weekends when weather permits, cross-country in Germany and Austria and of course AEROBATICS all the time; last summer holiday trip from Landshut-Portoroz (Slovenia)- Croatia-Venice (IT)- Verona (IT)- Landshut. “I REMEMBER BUILDING MY FIRST MODEL AIRCRAFT WHEN I WAS 10...” Why does it gives you pleasure? Building an aeroplane is the most interesting activity I've done in my life. It is a constant challenge where quality control is up to you. I had the constant support of my wife who is also one of the few women expert with the Rivet gun and bucking bar (aircraft has more than 10.000 rivets). She also flies with me, acro included. After flying over 4000 hours in fighters, the RV8 is the closest aircraft I've found to enjoy the flight and allows me to travel fast and do aerobatics without limits. 48 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD EUROFIGHTER EUROFIGHTER 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 49

riginally designed to produce an air - MATERIAL CHOICE craft with incredible performance in Eurofighter Typhoon is made up of advanced Othe air to air domain, the Eurofighter materials. Chiefly these are: Typhoon is put together using advanced com - posite materials.  Carbon Fibre Composites 70% In fact, the airframe delivers both superior  Metals 15% MATERIAL manoeuvrability at subsonic speeds and effi -  Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP) 12% cient supersonic capability and can support  Other Materials 3% the widest range of combat scenarios. Carbon Fibre Composites: Given the need 1 LIGHTNESS: In order to be fast and agile for lightness, strength and flexibility, carbon WORLD it is important the aircraft’s weight is kept to fibre composite materials are an ideal choice. a minimum. Why? Well the lighter it is the bet - They tick each box. Indeed Eurofighter Typhoon ter the power-to-weight ratio, the better the led the way in making use of carbon fibre in its performance. Eurofighter is light and its EJ200 design. It means the weight of the airframe is engines deliver huge amounts of thrust and 30 per cent less than for traditional materials, that combination gives it great performance. boosting the range and performance, as well as reducing the radar signature. 2 STRENGTH: If you are pulling high and flying at supersonic speed, you are putting Titanium: Carbon fibre is excellent, but where massive aerodynamic force on the airframe. it suffers is with heat. During flight some parts Imagine putting your hand out of a car window of the aircraft — the leading edges on the while travelling at speed and you’ll get some wings, nose cones and the back end near the idea of what that’s like, then multiply the engine — all experience extremely high tem - speed. So, yes, the airframe has to be light peratures. So here the aircraft needs to be enough to deliver outstanding performance made of a material that has good heat but it also has to be capable of coping with resistant qualities and that’s why a metal is astonishing aerodynamic loads. Without chosen. The metal of choice is titanium sufficient strength, the airframe, pushed to because, as well as being able to cope when high speeds and G-forces, would simply the heat is on, it’s also light. In effect it’s the disintegrate. carbon fibre

3 FLEXIBILITY: In addition to lightness and strength, the airframe also has to be able to flex, otherwise it would snap. You may be able to see how the wings bend slightly in flight. Flexibility allows it to cope with the forces placed on it.

Carbon Fibre Composites (CFC) of the metal world, but you wouldn’t build the Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) whole aircraft out of titanium as it would be Aluminium Alloy too heavy and performance would be hit. Titanium Alloy Creating an aircraft that can achieve world-class levels of performance Weapons: When flying with most bombs Acrylic (Röhm 249) there are limits to how fast and how much G means getting the right balance between three, sometimes competing, the aircraft can pull. This is not because of the weight but rather the limitations on the bombs characteristics: lightness, strength and flexibility. >> themselves. Unlike the aircraft, most have not been designed to cope with the aerodynamic forces that would be acting on them at high speeds. Missiles are different in that they have been engineered to go supersonic and pull lots of G. Some can travel up to Mach 5 and pull an eye-watering 30G! << 50 2016• EUROFIGHTER WORLD ROUND UP SOCIAL MEDIA 2016 • EUROFIGHTER WORLD 51

GAME OVER – Stay connected with us: wo Austrian Eurofighter Typhoons are This is one of many exercises carried out by PRACTICE seen here escorting an Austrian Airlines Eurofighter pilots to ensure that, in a real emer - IN LESS THAN A BLINK OF BE PART OF OUR TBoeing 767-300ER to a ‘coerced’ simu - gency, manoeuvres such as forced landings can AN EYE… SOCIAL MEDIA FAMILY MAKES PERFECT lated landing in Zeltweg. The Boeing (OE-LAZ) be carried out effectively and safely. << was coming home after being freshly liveried n average, it takes a human around in a Paint Shop in Shannon, Ireland. 180 milliseconds to press a button It’s never been easier to keep bang up-to-date with all the very latest Owhen signalled to do so by a light- information and images from the world of Eurofighter. source. But it takes only 140 milliseconds Our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter Instragram and YouTube when alerted by sound. are regularly updated to keep you in the picture. You won’t miss a thing. For a fighter Please join in — follow, like, share and engage with our ever-growing fan base. pilot those 40 milliseconds could mean life Be part of our social media family. or death. And, given that the Visit us online @ www.eurofighter.com blink of an eye last around 300 milliseconds, it’s clear that, on both counts, sound has the advantage when it comes to reaction time. Now, a team of Eurofighter specialists from Airbus Defence & Space, working with the Danish firm Terma, are taking this knowledge and using ‘3D Audio’ technology to engineer the tactical advantage it brings into the high- tech helmets that will help protect and ‘inform’ their pilots every time they take to the skies. If you’ve sat and watched an action movie with surround-sound, you’ll know that the explosions and action seem to fill your head from all directions giving you a very real feel of what’s where – and what you need to look at. In a Eurofighter Typhoon, travelling at over EUROFIGHTER AND NETMA SIGN AGREEMENT TO Mach 1, at 40,000ft plus, knowing what’s com - ing from where has its uses. If a missile’s com - STREAMLINE PROCESSES ing in, and you can hear news of it before see - ing news of it – that matters. And, if you have urofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH and It follows the signing of ‘Mutual two radio channels giving you information at NETMA, the NATO Eurofighter and Recognition’ certificates by senior officials the same time, and you weren’t sure which was ETornado Management Agency, have after agreement to adopt the European which, wouldn’t it help if one was always in your signed an Agreement to streamline the Type Military Airworthiness Requirement 21 left ear and one in your right? and Airworthiness Certification process and (EMAR21), recently approved by the European Painting pictures with sound is, in fact, a reduce the workload on Nations and their Defence Agency (EDA). highly effective way of communicating with Military Aviation Authorities. Eurofighter’s CEO, Volker Paltzo, said: pilots, and Airbus Defence & Space is well The Agreement will allow the attribution of “Sharing and delegating a common standard advanced with trials to introduce the technology privileges to industry to carry out certification of approval will bring new efficiencies into the into the Eurofighter. work previously done by the customer. programme. This is a significant step forward And you can do more with sound too – you for a Programme that is already delivering a can eliminate it when it’s not wanted.  Left to right: Volker Paltzo, CEO Eurofighter and Graham Farnell, General Manager NETMA world-class product.” << Terma is working with Airbus Defence & Space to introduce an Active Noise Reduction (ANR) system into the helmets of Eurofighter pilots making one of the best working environ - IN OUR NEXT ISSUE... ments for any fighter pilot, even better. ANR works by sampling the sounds that are Don’t miss the latest news and features on not wanted, and reproduces sound-waves that cancel them out. It’s a technology that can Eurofighter Typhoon: already be found in high-end consumer head - phones and in top-of-the-range cars. Now it will We report on the major Air Shows 2016 play a role in some of the fastest machines on  the planet helping pilots concentrate - and Special report from Red Flag in Nellis, Nevada delivering combat edge.  Trials of the ANR system are due to take Latest updates on capability progress place with the Austrian Air Force’s Eurofighter  Typhoons at Zeltweg early this year and work  Left to right: GenMaj. Dr. Ansgar Rieke, Head of GE MAA, Gen. Isp. Capo Francesco Langelle, Head of IT MAA, LtGral Juan Manuel Garcia Montano, Head of SP MAA, AVM Martin Clark, Head of UK MAA on 3D Audio technology integration continues at Manching. Listen to this space! <<