Berlin won’t be alone in adopting the new Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 5 aircraft, as Italy and Spain are also on track to receive additional aircraft in the coming years.
The German Luftwaffe will receive at least 20 additional Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, after Berlin approved the procurement valued at 3.75 billion euros ($4.36 billion). The Tranche 5 aircraft will be delivered beginning in 2031, with plans calling for the order to be completed by 2034.
The acquisition of the new aircraft is part of Berlin’s increased defense budget, rather than the 100 billion euro Söndervermögen (special fund) that Germany introduced following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Eurofighter Typhoon’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 2003
- Number Built: 609 (+ 7 prototypes)
- Length: 15.96 m (52 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 10.95 m (35 ft 11 in)
- Weight: 23,500 kg (35,274 lb) MTOW
- Engines: Two Euroject EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, 60 kN (13,500 lbf) thrust each dry
- Top Speed: 2,495 km/h (1,550 mph), Mach 2.35
- Combat Radius: 1,389 km (863 mi)
- Service Ceiling: 16,764 m (55,000 ft)
- Loadout: One 27mm Mauser BK-27 revolver cannon; 13 hardpoints (8 under wing, 5 under-fuselage pylon stations); 9,000 kg (19,800 lb) total payload capacity
- Aircrew: 1-2, depending on variant
Development of the Typhoon began in 1986, with the establishment of the Eurofighter consortium that involved the three countries—Germany, Italy, and the UK—that had worked to develop the Panavia Tornado. Spain later joined the effort, while France had also been an early partner in the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) before Paris elected to pursue a program that resulted in the development of the Dassault Rafale.
The New Eurofighters Are Deadlier than Ever
Germany currently operates approximately 138 of the multirole combat aircraft, which form the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s combat aircraft fleet. The German air service has been upgrading its capabilities by replacing the older Tranche 1 Eurofighters with the newer Tranche 4 models, which were ordered as part of Project Quadriga in 2020.
The acquisition of the 20 Tranche 5 models isn’t exactly a surprise, as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had announced the intent for Germany, a NATO member, to acquire the aircraft at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2024.
“The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved the procurement of further Eurofighters of Tranche 5, including engines as well as spare and replacement parts,” the German Bundeswehr said in a statement to international military analyst firm Janes. “A contract for the further capability of the Eurofighter for electronic warfare was approved. Specifically, this is about the suppression of ground-based air defence.”
The Tranche 5 will be the most advanced version of the Typhoon delivered to date, outfitted with the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk 1 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Also known as “E-Scan,” it is now undergoing testing on German and Spanish Typhoons.
“This contract will improve the simulation environment and simultaneously prepare it for training in the new capabilities of future developments of the Eurofighter weapon system,” German defense officials added.
Berlin won’t be alone in adopting the new Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 5 aircraft, as NATO members Italy and Spain are also on track to receive additional aircraft in the coming years.
The Eurofighter Is Getting an Electronic Warfare Upgrade
Germany is also developing the Eurofighter Elektronischer Kampf (EK), an electronic attack variant that will be further equipped with the Saab Arexis electronic warfare (EW) suite. It will allow it to be armed with the AGM-88E AARGM (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile) to take over the SEAD (Suppression Enemy Air Defenses) and DEAD (Destruction Enemy Air Defense) roles currently handled by the aging Panavia Tornado.
“The Eurofighter is to be optimized with the AREXIS self-protection system and corresponding air-to-ground guided missiles and further enabled for electronic warfare,” the German MoD explained.
The newest advancements will ensure the Eurofighter remains a capable multirole combat aircraft for decades to come.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Sergey Kohl.
