Thu, Aug 09, 2007
Aircraft To Be Operational In Late-2008
Representatives with the UK Ministry of Defense tell ANN Royal
Air Force Coningsby (No. XI Squadron) took delivery this week of
its first two multi-role Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. The aircraft
will become operational by the latter half of 2008.
In service now for nearly four years, the Typhoon is already
exceeding the Royal Air Force's expectations with its outstanding
high performance. The RAF expects over the coming years -- in both
its air-to-air and air-to-surface roles -- Typhoon will provide a
world-class, multi-role aircraft.
The air-to-surface capability will provide crews with the
ability to mount all-weather autonomous precision ground attack
missions, and represents a significant enhancement for the Royal
Air Force and the Typhoon fleet. The air-to-surface capability will
include the Rafael Litening III Laser Designator Pod and Enhanced
Paveway II dual-mode guided bombs.
The proven Enhanced Paveway II bomb is capable of homing onto
targets using global positioning system coordinates passed to it
from Typhoon, or by homing in on Laser radiation reflected from the
target. Block 5 aircraft meet the final standard for the Tranche 1
purchase of 55 aircraft.
Currently, a planned retrofit program is converting the
previously delivered air-to-air capable Tranche 1 aircraft to the
same multi-role standard.
Both The Block 5 aircraft were to be delivered to RAF Coningsby
Wednesday. No decision have been taken yet as to where the Typhoons
will ultimately be deployed.
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