That evolution is being carefully mapped out and nurtured by teams of engineers at BAE Systems in the UK, in conjunction with our Eurofighter partnersat Leonardo and Airbus. Here, they have embarked on a wide-ranging programme of capability upgrades that ensure Typhoon remains at the forefront of air combat for decades to come.
The starting point is an aircraft already trusted by air forces across Europe to operate on NATO missions and secure the skies over 1.4km of sovereign air space with a combine population of more than 257 million people and in the Middle East its role has been vital to securing air defence in the region. Typhoon has an impressive sensor suite with a wide range of weapons and an enviable reputation for its performance, reliability, availability and survivability. Not a bad starting point.
A key part of Typhoon’s new journey are the improvements we are making for the near and far time. These aren’t just bright ideas in the minds of the engineers. Already well advanced iterations of new technology — like mission computers, sensors and displays — are being flown on test rigs and, in many cases test aircraft.
“We are planning and investing in Typhoon for the short, medium, and long term — it’s a platform that will be around for 20, 30, 40 years to come, so we have developed a plan for the capability to evolve,” says Paul Smith, a former Typhoon pilot, who is BAE Systems Head of Typhoon Strategy Delivery.
A key element of this work is a new, cutting-edge mission system. Known as the Unified Mission Computer (UMC), it significantly increases Typhoon’s processing power.
It is capable of integrating advanced sensors and managing vast volumes of data. It boasts the latest multi-core processors, which are 200 times more powerful than the existing Typhoon processors. Think of this way — it’s like moving from dial-up internet to superfast fibre-optic broadband — everything you do becomes instantaneous.
Developed in just 18 months under a project called Medulla, it’s the central brain function of the aircraft — more powerful than the systems currently found in fifth-generation platforms. It is work which is not only developing new capability, it is nurturing highly-skilled sovereign capability for the UK and employing some of the more than 20,000 jobs across the economy secured by the programme.
But it is not the only new tech that is being developed by the company. The Medulla approach is also helping in the cockpit environment. Engineers have transformed the cockpit to equip future pilots with a Large Area Display. Again, a working model already exists and is being extensively tested.
Think of a giant iPad, it will replace the existing three-screen set-up, with a panoramic, intuitive interface. Either side of it sit iPhone sized High Integrity Panels (HIPs) which ensure the pilot has the information they need to get them home in the event of a failure of the main display. Being put through its paces in the Air Labs environment, the plan is to undergo flight testing of parts of the system in the next 12 months.
“For pilots, it’s like going from peering through a letterbox to having a panoramic view,” says Paul. “In conjunction with the Striker II, the LAD fundamentally transforms situational awareness. The developments in sensor technology and datalinks mean the aircraft is going to be receiving a vast amount of new data. Being able to quickly, clearly and accurately display that in a way a pilot can understand will be the difference they need in the future threat environment. The combination of Striker II and the LAD will far more effectively illustrate the broader and denser threat landscape”.
Crucially, this is not just about getting ready for future decades and a new world of threats. Typhoon’s next-generation journey is mapped out over many years but there is a remains a real focus on today.
“Given developments in the international security situation we are not standing still — this is about delivering for customers now. We’ve invested in these things — like the UMC and the LAD now — to accelerate capability. We are looking at how we further accelerate and bring near-term capabilities to customers, such as accelerating the integration of weapons like SPEAR and SPEAR EW”.
Today Typhoon is already interoperable with numerous NATO aircraft and its combined power, performance and capability paired with the stealth of aircraft such as F-35 is a potent combination for any air force. Different aircraft, performing different tasks, vital in an ever-changing future battlespace.
Together, these enhancements allow Typhoon to seamlessly integrate with allied platforms, such as F-35 and future combat aircraft, as well as future uncrewed systems — ensuring the aircraft remains connected and relevant well into the 2060s.
This is more than an upgrade programme it’s a blueprint for the future. With Typhoon’s next-gen journey, it is not about getting ready for tomorrow — the team are already heading there.