Raf Typhoon tranche1 not to be retired after all?

[PaulR]

Hi,

Have read recently in AFM and on Bae's website that RAFTranche 1 typhoons are to get 'drop two' upgrades.However, I thought they were to be retired starting 2015, so why the the upgrade? Doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense, unless they are planning to keep them after all. Anyone got any views on this?

On an associated subject, are the tranche1 two seaters going to be retained for the OCU or are they to be retired and replaced by tranche 2/3 two seaters? As earlier, grateful for any news or views.

Paul

Edited July 28, 2012 by PaulR

[Wez]

Hi,

Have read recently in AFM and on Bae's website that RAFTranche 1 typhoons are to get 'drop two' upgrades.However, I thought they were to be retired starting 2015, so why the the upgrade? Doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense, unless they are planning to keep them after all. Anyone got any views on this?

On an associated subject, are the tranche1 two seaters going to be retained for the OCU or are they to be retired and replaced by tranche 2/3 two seaters? As earlier, grateful for any news or views.

Paul

Cost of airframe is X-million, cost of upgrade is X-Y million.

Makes perfect sense to me, providing the airframes have got plenty of life in them (which they bloody should have), an upgrade is a relatively cheap way of maintaining strength and capability.

Would a tranche 1 airframe match the capabilities of a tranche 2/3 airframe? Probably not so what's the point of retaining them as OCU airframes? None!

You should train the crews in as close a capability to the operational fleet, it helps in getting them Combat Ready quicker.

As a tax payer I'm pleased they're not chucking away otherwise useful airframes prematurely (like they did with the Hunters post Duncan Sandy's disastrous defence review in 1957).

Wez

[Stuart Wilson]

Hi,

I assumed the "upgrades" are largely software related. I think the Tranch 2 a/c aren't multi-role yet as they're waiting for other software upgrades and therefore the T1 a/c are being upgraded in the meantime.

My understanding is that the T1 a/c can't be supported much beyond 2015 as the computers they use are no longer in production and to replace them would cost around £20m per plane.

However once the govt compares this to £100m for the F-35 I wouldn't be surprised to see some upgraded!

Stuart

[PaulR]

Hallo,

Just read a thread over at airshows.co.uk that seems to indicate the tranche 1 typhoons may be retained after all. It refers to a Jane's article (that I can' t access unfortunately) about Philip Hammond's F-35 future plans, and includes potentially 7 frontline Typhoon sqns and an initial 48 F-35Bs, plus more F-35As later. Would very much like this to be true; and it would seem to tie in with rec ent news about new upgrades to tranche 1 airframes. Why upgrade them if they're only going to be in service for another 5/6 years? Anyone got any knowledge on this latest development, or access to the full article at Janes?

Cheers, Paul