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2021-06-06

New German Typhoons to Offer Enhanced Protection

EuroDASS Consortium, comprising of Leonardo, Elettronica, Indra and HENSOLDT, recently signed a contract to supply the Praetorian Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS) for the new Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft being supplied under the German Quadriga programme. The deliveries are planned from 2023 until end of 2027.

In the frame of the Quadriga programme, 38 of the latest-build standard will replace the Tranche 1 Eurofighters. Further production improvements will accompany the Quadriga production also allowing for long-lasting maintainability of previous Tranche 2/Tranche 3 build standards.

Praetorian’s integrated sensors and jamming provide platform protection, situational awareness and advanced electronic deception techniques. It comprises a comprehensive suite of Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) and missile warning. It provides protection against air-to-air and surface-to-air threats by monitoring and proactively responding to the operational environment, detecting and evaluating threats and initiating appropriate countermeasures at maximum range.

Praetorian integrates with the remaining elements of the Typhoon Defensive Aids System (DAS), namely the Defensive Aids Computer (DAC) and the Chaff and Flare Counter Measures Dispensing System (CMDS), to ensure end-to-end protection.

The Typhoon’s Praetorian DASS equips the aircraft with advanced protection from threats including infrared (IR or heat-seeking) and radar-guided missiles. The system is well-regarded by users and has been battle-tested on peace-keeping operations in Libya and Syria. It integrates sensors and electronic warfare jamming to provide situational awareness, platform protection and advanced electronic deception techniques.

Praetorian is an open and programmable electronic warfare system. This means that Germany is in complete control of its mission data and can boost the survivability of its Typhoons by fine-tuning the system to the actual situation on the battlefield on a mission-by-mission basis. Mission data can be fed into the Praetorian system in a short time, often just hours.

Backbone of German Air Force

Quadriga is a vote of confidence in the Eurofighter Typhoon that says that the platform will be the backbone of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) out to the 2060s. This sends a strong message to potential future partners, in the near-term Finland and Switzerland, who will be able to rely on long-term commitment to Typhoon. Further opportunities for Typhoon and Praetorian include additional orders from Spain and Germany as well as future export orders.

Under the deal announced in the Bundestag in November 2020, Germany’s commitment to the new Eurofighter Typhoons will see it being built to the latest standard and include the E-Scan radar Mk1.

This news is a further boost for the Eurofighter programme, following the E-Scan radar retro-embodiment contracts for the Spanish Ejército del Aire and German Luftwaffe Typhoon fleets and the continuation of the development of E-Scan version Mk2 announced in the summer. Through Quadriga, the German Air Force is planning on the aircraft having an in-service life of at least 30 to 40 years.

Bright Future

Ahead of the Quadriga signing, the Eurofighter Partner Companies (EPCs), Airbus Germany, Airbus Spain, BAE Systems and Leonardo, worked together on a plan to bridge the production gap following the completion of the final Tranche 3 jet.

At the Airbus facility in Manching, Germany, Quadriga started life in 2020 with about 100 people working on the long-term initiative, the planning, preparation and procurement elements. When the first major components arrive for equipping the team will grow to almost 200 to 250. By 2023, Airbus will start preparing the final assembly again and will grow the team further. Though work on the final assembly will start in 2023, the production process is already underway starting with procuring the titanium and other metals required.

The contract sends a strong message to potential export countries like Egypt and Bangladesh that they can be assured that this aircraft will be in service up to 2060.

Moreover, Eurofighter has submitted proposals for the replacement of the Spanish Air Force’s F-18s which are based on the Canary Islands. Spain is looking to secure 20 new Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to boost its existing fleet under what is called Project Halcon. Airbus is in the process of negotiations with the Spanish government to mature the proposal and a contract for the 20 aircraft is expected to be signed this year.

More than 550 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft have been successfully delivered to seven countries: Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Austria, Oman and Saudi Arabia; and ordered by two more: Kuwait and Qatar.

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