The Eurofighter Typhoon is in service with nine nations: United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Austria, with orders for all nine customers still pending as of September 2017. The aircraft has, as of 2016, been provided in a basic air-defense form and has been upgraded to newer production standards which include internal IRST, air-to-ground precision strike capability (with Royal Air Force Typhoons participating in air strikes destroying tanks in Libya in 2011 as their combat debut), and HMSS (helmet-mounted symbology system) helmets. Most of the major systems including the CAPTOR radar and the Defence Aids Sub-System (DASS) are expected to be improved and updated over time, with the radar being updated to an AESA, being the CAPTOR-E/CAESAR, of which the Kuwait Air Force will be the inaugural operator, with first deliveries of their 28 new-built aircraft to commence in 2019.
Development aircraft
Seven development aircraft (DA) were built with varying equipment fits and flight test roles.
DA1
DA1's main role was handling characteristics and engine performance. DA1 was assembled in 1992 and first flew on 27 March 1994 with Luftwaffe serial 98+29. The military evaluation phase commenced in 1996. In 1997 after 123 flights, DA1's RB199 engines were replaced by EJ200s, it also was refitted with the Martin-Baker Mk.16A ejector seat and a full avionics fit. Following these modifications it rejoined the flight test programme in 1999. Following the loss of DA6, DA1 was transferred to Spain to undertake the remaining development work including IRIS-T trials. The aircraft was retired on 21 December 2005, eleven years, eight months, and 24 days after its first flight. It is on display at the Flugwerft Schleißheim (external site of the Deutsches Museum) near Munich, Germany.
DA2 DA2 undertook envelope expansion, flight control assessment and load trials. The aircraft first flew on 6April 1994 as ZH588. The flight control assessment included development of the Eurofighter's "carefree handling". On 23 December 1997 DA2 became the first Eurofighter to achieve Mach2 and in January 1998 undertook refuelling trials with a RAF VC10. Like DA1, DA2 was upgraded in 1998 with new engines, ejector seat and avionics and rejoined the test programme in August. In 2000 the aircraft was covered with 490 pressure transducers; due to the fact that they were covered by black pads and had associated wiring the aircraft was painted in a gloss black scheme. The pressure transducers measured the effects of various weapons loads and external fuel tanks. In 2002 the aircraft undertook ASRAAM trials, completed carefree handling trials and commenced DASS decoy trials. Now retired and on display in the Milestones of Flight Gallery at the Royal Air Force Museum London at Hendon.
DA3 Weapons systems development.
DA4
Twin-seat, radar and avionics development, previously on display between 2009 and 2024 at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. Repossessed by the Royal Air Force to serve as a training aid at RAF Cosford.
DA5 Radar and avionics development, being upgraded to Tranche 2 standard. German and Spanish contract involved upgrading 130 Eurofighter Typhoon tranche 2 to latest AESA radar and avionics.
DA6 Twin-seat, airframe development and handling. DA6 was lost in a crash in Spain in November 2002 after both engines failed. EADS Germany's DA1 was transferred to EADS-CASA.
DA7 Navigation, avionics and missile carriage. Now retired in Cameri IAF.
Instrumented production aircraft
The instrumented production aircraft (IPA) are five production standard aircraft fitted with telemetry instruments for dedicated flight testing and further systems development.
IPA1 Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS). IPA2 Air-to-surface weapons integration. IPA3 Air-to-air weapons integration. IPA4 Air-to-surface weapons integration and environmental development. IPA5 Air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons integration. IPA6 Converted Series Production Aircraft (BS031)—Tranche 2 Computer Systems. IPA7 Converted Series Production Aircraft (GS0029)—Full Tranche 2 Standard. IPA8 E-Scan radar, enhanced weapon integration and improvements to mission equipment.
Series production aircraft
These are the operational and training aircraft. The model is known as Typhoon in the United Kingdom and export markets and as EF-2000 in Germany, Italy and Spain. However, all Italian aircraft carry the "Typhoon" logo on their tails.
Tranche 1 Initial Operational Capability, Basic Air Defence Capability
Block 1 Air-to-ground capabilities Block 2 Air-to-air capabilities Block 5 Air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, Full Operational Capability (FOC) standard. All Tranche1 aircraft are being upgraded to Block5 capability through the Retrofit 2 (R2) programme. Under the R2 upgrade, the aircraft are receiving structural upgrades (notably in the fin-tip area), a revised fuel system with enhanced transfer rates, new software and precision air-to-ground capability.Major Retrofit For Early Eurofighter Typhoon Aircraft Begins . Eurofighter.com, 15/11/2006
Tranche 2 New hardware standard with new mission computer and EuroFIRST PIRATEhttps://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2007-11-12/eurofighter-flies-first-tranche-2-typhoon
Block 8 Enhanced multirole capabilities Block 10 Enhanced Operational Capability (EOC) 1, improved DASS, IFF Mode 5, Rangeless ACMI Air/Air—AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM, IRIS-T digital Air/Ground—GBU-24, GPS-guided weapons, ALARM, Paveway III & IV, Rafael LITENING III Block 15 Enhanced Operational Capability (EOC) 2 Air/Air—METEOR, Air/Ground—TAURUS, Storm Shadow, Brimstone Block 20 Enhanced Operational Capability (EOC) 3
Tranche 3A Incorporating AESA, and hardware support for EOC 4 Both variants include conformal fuel tanks, fibre optic cabling and computer upgrade, defensive system upgrades such as DASS Praetorian EW suite. The Tranche 3A variant came with the Captor-M mechanically scanned array radar while later 3As that were made for export for Kuwait and Qatar was equipped with Captor-E Mk0 AESA radar. https://www.baesystems.com/en-uk/article/typhoon-tranche-3-takes-to-the-skies A further upgraded variant called Tranche 3B was cancelled.https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2010-07-02/eurofighter-tranche-3b-negotiations-begin-while-upgrades-continue Tranche 3A of Kuwait Air Force is the first serial production batch to receive Captor-E during manufacturing. Air/Ground—SPEAR 3, Marte-ER, LITENING IV & V
Tranche 4 Unspecified upgrades building upon Tranche 3A specifications. Tranche 4 is equipped with CAPTOR E AESA radar, improved avionics for weapon compatibility. According to Dirk Hoke, CEO Airbus Defence and Space, "The new Tranche 4 Eurofighter is currently the most modern European-built combat aircraft with a service life well beyond 2060." As part of German Eurofighter Typhoon contract, Hensoldt will produce AESA radar for Luftwaffe Eurofighter. Germany ordered thirty single-seater and eight twin-seater Tranche 4 Eurofighters in late 2020 with cost of €5.4 billion under the Quadriga contract. 15 of these are to be delivered as Eurofighter EK Step 1. Spain ordered 20 Tranche 4 in June 2022 under the Halcón I and another 25 as part of Halcón II in 2024. Italy ordered up to 24 Tranche 4 Eurofighters in 2024. Türkiye ordered 20 with an option for another 20 in 2025. The German and Spanish Tranche 4 are to be delivered with the ECRS Mk1, the Italian Eurofighters are to be delivered with the ECRS Mk0.
Tranche 5 Latest production standard with enhanced avionics and sensor suite Tranche 5 is a further development with updated avionics compatible with new computing architecture, more powerful on-board computers and an open software structure that will enable future system and weapon integrations as well as significantly faster data fusion. Also a revised cockpit with a large-format multi-field display will be fielded.https://militaeraktuell.at/eurofighter-tranche-5-was-wir-bis-jetzt-wissen/ Germany ordered 20 fighters with deliveries beginning in 2030.https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/ausruestung-baainbw/aktuelles/ruestungsprojekt-eurofighter-tranche-5-6027564At least 15 are to be delivered as Eurofighter EK. Turkish Eurofighters are to be delivered with the ECRS Mk2.
Operators Italian Air Force aircraft
As of July 2006 the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) had one EF-2000 wing, 4º Stormo (4th Wing), which received its first aircraft on 19 February 2004. The 36º Stormo received its first Typhoon on 1October 2007. By 2018 the Italian Air Force had three Eurofighter wings.
Qatar Emiri Air Force aircraft On 25 August 2022 three newly built Eurofighter Typhoons jets destined to the QEAF (Qatar Emiri Air Force) departed the BAE Systems factory at Warton, UK, to Qatar on their delivery flight to Tamim Airbase, near Dukhan, approximately 80 kilometres west of Doha via Athens.
Spanish Air Force aircraft
As of December 2006 the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire) has one squadron of aircraft. The first aircraft was delivered to Wing 11 in October 2003 at Moron Air Base, Spain. In Spanish service, the aircraft is designated the C.16 Typhoon..
Luftwaffe aircraft
As of October 2006 Germany had two active EF-2000 fighter wings, Jagdgeschwader 73 and Jagdgeschwader 74. JG 73 began converting to the Eurofighter in April 2004. JG 74 received its first aircraft on 25 June 2006.
Royal Air Force aircraft
The Typhoon replaced the RAF's Tornado F3 (fighter) and Jaguar (ground attack) forces. They will equip five front-line squadrons, one front-line flight and one reserve squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).
Typhoon T1 The Typhoon T1 is a Tranche 1, batch 1 two-seat trainer. The first Typhoon T1 is one of the Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA1) and remains part of the BAE fleet. The aircraft's maiden flight was on 15 April 2002. The official in service date for the first RAF Typhoon T1, serial ZJ803, was 30 June 2003. Formal delivery occurred on 18 December at which point 17 Sqn began a full flying programme. The first squadrons, No. 17 OEU and No. 29 OCU Sqns, moved to RAF Coningsby in 2005 to begin establishing an initial operational capability (IOC).
In 2001, it was announced that the Royal Air Force (RAF) would not use the aircraft's internal 27 mm Mauser cannon. This was due to a desire to save money by removing gun support costs, ammunition stocks, training costs, etc. The gun was also deemed unnecessary since the missile armament was believed to be adequate in the Typhoon's fighter role. However, because removal of the cannon would affect the aircraft's flight characteristics, requiring modification of the aircraft's flight software the RAF decided all its Typhoons would be fitted with the cannon but that it would not be used or supported. The service argued that this would save money by reducing the requirement for ground equipment, removing training costs and avoiding the fatigue effects of firing the cannon. The RAF maintained the option to activate the cannons at very short notice were operational requirements to change.. However, in a third change of policy, The Daily Telegraph reported on 3October 2006 that the RAF will fully utilise the cannon.
Typhoon T1A Typhoon T1As are Tranche 1, batch 2 two-seat trainers. There would not normally be a different designation for a different aircraft batch; however, the Batch2 aircraft has a fuel system modification to fix a fuel gauge problem identified in the development aircraft fleet. Typhoon F2 The F2 is the single-seat fighter variant. The first F2 is IPA5 and also remains with BAE, its first flight was 6 June 2002. The first operational squadron, No. 3, formed at RAF Cottesmore on 31 March 2006 and moved to its new base RAF Coningsby the following day. No. 11 squadron, the second operational squadron received its first aircraft (ZJ931) on 9 October 2006.