Discover the main role and key performance characteristics of the European Eurofighter Typhoon fighter, from its development to its operational use and results.
Summary
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multirole fighter designed during the Cold War to counter Soviet threats and ensure air superiority in Europe. Developed by a consortium comprising the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain, it entered service in the early 2000s. Originally designed for air-to-air combat, it gradually incorporated air-to-ground capabilities, becoming a versatile aircraft. It reaches Mach 2.35 and has a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than 1:1, ensuring excellent maneuverability. Currently operated by nine countries, it has seen service in Libya, Syria, and for NATO’s air policing mission. Its development was costly and marked by delays, raising questions about its relevance in the face of more modern programs such as the F-35. However, it remains one of the pillars of European air defense and continues to deliver remarkable performance, particularly in air superiority combat.
Development context and initial objectives
The Eurofighter Typhoon program was launched in the 1980s, when the Cold War required European fighters capable of competing with the new Soviet Su-27s.
In 1983, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain formed the EFA (European Fighter Aircraft) to design a fast, agile air superiority aircraft capable of carrying modern missiles.
The specifications emphasized:
- maneuverability in close combat,
- the ability to operate at high speed and high altitude,
- a twin-engine aircraft for safety and power reasons,
- an upgradeable platform to integrate future sensors and weapons.
The fall of the USSR and the evolution of threats then necessitated modifications to equip the aircraft with air-to-ground capabilities, leading to delays and increasing costs.
The primary role and multi-role evolution
Initially, the Typhoon was designed as an air superiority fighter, intended to engage enemy combat aircraft. It is distinguished by its lightweight composite airframe, delta-canard configuration, and fly-by-wire controls, which give it excellent agility.
However, in the early 2000s, the nature of conflict changed: ground interdiction and air support missions became essential. The Typhoon was therefore adapted to multi-role capabilities, enabling it to strike ground targets while retaining its air-to-air capabilities.
Today, it can perform:
- air defense and rapid interception,
- escort of other aircraft,
- precision strikes against strategic ground targets,
- air policing and deterrence in peacetime.
Key performance and technical data
The Typhoon is powered by two Eurojet EJ200 turbojet engines, each developing approximately 90 kN of thrust with afterburner.
This power, combined with an empty weight of 11,000 kg and a maximum takeoff weight of 23,500 kg, gives it a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than 1:1, ensuring rapid acceleration and excellent performance in dogfights.
Other notable features include:
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.35 at high altitude,
- Operational ceiling: approximately 16,800 m,
- Typical range: 1,390 km in air-to-air missions, extendable through in-flight refueling,
- Captor-M then Captor-E AESA radar, offering detection of air targets at over 160 km,
- Weapons carrying capacity: up to 7.5 t on 13 hardpoints.
This combination makes it one of the few European fighters capable of taking on 4th and 5th generation aircraft in air-to-air combat.
Arsenal and operational versatility
On air superiority missions, the Typhoon mainly uses:
- MBDA Meteor missiles, with a long range (over 150 km),
- AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles,
- IRIS-T or ASRAAM short-range missiles.
On air-to-ground missions, it can carry:
- Paveway II/IV guided bombs,
- 500 kg JDAMs,
- Storm Shadow cruise missiles,
- Marte ER anti-ship missiles.
This flexibility reflects the evolution of its mission from a role focused on air combat to a truly multi-role fighter.
User countries and operational experience
The Eurofighter Typhoon is in service in:
- the United Kingdom,
- Germany,
- Italy,
- Spain,
- as well as Austria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.
It was deployed for the first time in actual operations during the Libya campaign in 2011, in air superiority and precision strike missions.
The United Kingdom then used it against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
In Europe, it is frequently engaged in NATO sky policing missions in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe.
Its availability rate has been deemed acceptable but below initial expectations, ranging from 50% to 65% depending on the fleet, reflecting the logistical complexity of an advanced aircraft.
Cost and controversy over the relevance of the program
The Typhoon is one of the most expensive European weapons programs of its time.
The unit cost is estimated at between €90 million and €120 million, depending on the batch and the customer, not including logistical support.
The overall cost of the program has exceeded €80 billion since its inception, due to delays, revised requirements, and the maintenance of four national assembly lines.
This expenditure has been criticized in light of the arrival of the F-35 Lightning II, which offers stealth capabilities and a more integrated sensor architecture.
Some observers believe that the Typhoon missed the opportunity to be a faster and less expensive transition aircraft, especially in the wake of the end of the Cold War.
Performance comparisons
Compared to its contemporaries, the Typhoon offers:
- better maneuverability and a higher thrust-to-weight ratio than the Rafale or F-16 Block 50/52,
- a maximum speed comparable to that of the MiG-29 or Su-35,
- avionics that were long behind the times but have now caught up thanks to AESA radar and data fusion.
However, it does not achieve the level of stealth and connectivity of the F-35, which limits its use in highly contested environments.
Nevertheless, it remains formidable in scenarios involving air superiority and medium-range interception.
Operational successes and limitations
The Typhoon has proven its effectiveness in air defense and precision strikes in permissive environments.
It contributed to the enforcement of a no-fly zone in Libya and the protection of European airspace.
However, its adaptation to air-to-ground missions has been slow and more costly than expected.
Its maintenance remains complex, limiting its availability compared to NATO standards.
These weaknesses highlight the tensions between the initial ambitions and the real needs of air forces in the era of asymmetric operations.
What the history of the Typhoon reveals
The Eurofighter Typhoon embodies the compromises of European military cooperation: it has helped to preserve a competitive aerospace industry and maintain strategic capabilities, but at the cost of high costs and delayed entry into service.
Its gradual evolution into a high-performance multi-role fighter shows that an aircraft designed for a specific threat can remain relevant if continuous investment adapts it to changing needs.
In the future, its role will gradually be taken over by 6th generation aircraft such as the SCAF/FCAS, but it will remain a major asset for European air superiority at least until the 2040s.
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