Aircraft
Middle East Customers Funding Eurofighter Upgrades
This model displayed on the MBDA stand at the recent Paris Air Show shows a notional configuration of air-ground weapons that have yet to be integrated on the Eurofighter Typhoon, namely the Storm Shadow or Taurus cruise missiles; the Brimstone; and the UK’s future series of weapons known as Spear. (Photo: Chris Pocock)
This model displayed on the MBDA stand at the recent Paris Air Show shows a notional configuration of air-ground weapons that have yet to be integrated on the Eurofighter Typhoon, namely the Storm Shadow or Taurus cruise missiles; the Brimstone; and the UK’s future series of weapons known as Spear. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

A briefing on the Eurofighter Typhoon organized by BAE Systems at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford last week provided a further indication that some key upgrades to the combat jet are being funded by Saudi Arabia and possibly Oman. The four original partner nations have proved reluctant to collectively fund in the near term enhancements that extend the aircraft’s air-to-ground capability, such as integration of the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile. The four partners have also so far failed to approve full development of the Captor-E AESA radar by the Euroradar consortium.