Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon
Spain receives first P1EB-standard Typhoons
Gareth Jennings, London -
Jane's Defence Weekly
23 January 2018
Spain #8217 first two P1EB Eurofighter Typhoons are now
operational, having been delivered to the air force in December 2017.
(Eurofighter)
Spain has received its first Eurofighter Typhoons to be
upgraded with the latest-standard multirole capabilities.
The first two aircraft fitted to the Phase 1 Enhancements
B Further Work (P1EB FW) configuration were delivered to the Spanish Air Force
(Ejército del Aire Español: EdAE) on 22 January, Eurofighter parent company
Airbus Defence and Space (DS) announced.
The new-build Tranche 3 fighters were built at Airbus DS’
Getafe facility near Madrid to the same configuration that is being retrofitted
into the aircraft of other partner nations. The Spanish Directorate General for
Armaments and Materiel (DGAM) procurement agency took delivery of the aircraft
on 22 December 2017, after which they were ferried to Albacete Air Force Base.
The remaining six of the 73 aircraft currently contracted by Spain will be
delivered to the same P1EB FW standard during 2018 and 2019.
The P1E upgrade affords a true ‘swing-role’ capability,
whereby the pilot can seamlessly switch between air-to-air and air-to-ground
missions.
In the air-to-surface mode it comprises integration of
the Rafael Litening III advanced targeting pod and the Raytheon Paveway IV,
Enhanced Paveway II dual-mode laser/GPS-guided bombs (LGBs), and the Paveway II
LGB. The air-to-surface helmet-mounted sight system is also integrated, giving
the Litening pod a significantly wider field-of-view.
Air-to-air enhancements of P1E include the digital
integration of the Diehl IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile to provide high
off-boresight targeting and firing via the head-up display and helmet-mounted
display (HMD).
Improved communications and voice control are also added,
and greater interoperability with coalition forces is be achieved through the
integration of secure Mode 5 identification friend or foe (IFF) and an enhanced
Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Link 16.
Original post: janes.com
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