Eurofighter Typhoon finally comes into service - Political Forum

Battersby · 07-11-2007, 08:52 AM

The new Eurofighter Typhoon has entered service in the RAF and other air forces for the first time. The RAF is having 232 of them, more than any other air force.

But allies the United States and Britain are working together on an aircraft that will probably be superior to the Eurofighter - the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be used by the US military as well as by the Royal Navy and the RAF.

Typhoon Fighter Enters RAF Service

Wednesday July 11, 2007
Sky News

The new Eurofighter Typhoon fighter has finally entered service with the RAF.

Eurofighter Typhoons fly in diamond formation. The Royal Air Force will have 232 of them, more than any other air force.

Eurofighters: How many is each country having?

Britain - 232
Germany - 180
Italy - 121
Spain - 87
Saudi Arabia - 72
Austria - 15

Eurofighter Typhoons are now on standby at RAF Coningsby and will respond to aircraft acting suspiciously or illegally entering UK air space.

They will progressively replace Tornado F3s which have carried out the interceptor duty for years.

The fighter plane is already operational in the German, Italian and Spanish air forces.

However it will not be known as the Typhoon in Luftwaffe service as the RAF operated a ground attack plane called the Typhoon during WWII.

The modern-day Typhoon is a single-seat, twin-engine aircraft with significant ground attack capabilities.

The aircraft is expected to lead European defence for at least the next 30 years.

However, the project has been criticised for being late and over budget.

The RAF says it is "the world's most advanced multi-role aircraft".

But America's leading tactical fighter plane, the F-22 Raptor, is seen by some military pilots as superior to the Typhoon.

Allies Britain and the US are working together on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will will be used by the militaries of both countries.

Britain and the US are currently working together to develop a third warplane - the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The UK is expected to buy versions of new F-35 fighters for the RAF and Royal Navy.

news.sky.com

Slartibartfas · 07-11-2007, 10:36 AM

Isn't the F-22 supposed to be double as expensive as the Eurofighter?
I would really be interested if thats true and if it is, if the F-22 is worth two Eurofighters.

FRYandBENDER · 07-11-2007, 10:46 AM

I don't know, but the F22 looks twice as cool.

Slartibartfas · 07-11-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRYandBENDER

I don't know, but the F22 looks twice as cool.

Well, then....

Brother Oz · 07-11-2007, 11:51 AM

And of course, we're selling these planes to Saudi Arabia. Who I'm sure will use them responsibly.

perdidochas · 07-11-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Oz

And of course, we're selling these planes to Saudi Arabia. Who I'm sure will use them responsibly.

Please point out where the Saudi military has used the weapons we've sold them irresponsibly. I can't recall hearing of a case.

Slartibartfas · 07-11-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Oz

And of course, we're selling these planes to Saudi Arabia. Who I'm sure will use them responsibly.

And the way how the deal was brokered was also model like transparent. Funny also how fast any examiniation was brought to an end before it even really began. Probably because of this outmost high level of transparancy in the UK....

Brother Oz · 07-11-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

And the way how the deal was brokered was also model like transparent. Funny also how fast any examiniation was brought to an end before it even really began. Probably because of this outmost high level of transparancy in the UK....

You wouldn't be referring to the case where the UK government stopped the courts investigating whether British companies were bribing the Saudi government to accept their contracts? Because I'm sure they had a perfectly good reason for that.

Quote:

And of course, we're selling these planes to Saudi Arabia. Who I'm sure will use them responsibly.

Please point out where the Saudi military has used the weapons we've sold them irresponsibly. I can't recall hearing of a case.

I was thinking about this as I wrote that. Saudi Arabia has never used any military force against the West, they were after all brought into power originally partly due to their support for the British. But I'm thinking about the future. Who are we fighting in the Middle East? Al-Qaeda, and other Islamist terrorist groups, against whom Jet Fighters are useless. But they could use them against conventional forces, like ours. Now, I don't think that would be something that will happen soon, but Saudi Arabia and other pro-West Muslim countries are starting to become less pro-West. For all of its alliance, Saudi Arabia's enforced official religion is virulently anti-West, it is in fact the same version of Islam as Al-Qaeda follows. Frankly, I don't trust them to stay on our side.

Slartibartfas · 07-12-2007, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Oz

You wouldn't be referring to the case where the UK government stopped the courts investigating whether British companies were bribing the Saudi government to accept their contracts? Because I'm sure they had a perfectly good reason for that.

Bribe? What bribe? The government says there was no bribe, hence no need to look for bribes. If your government says so, than it must be true, no doubt.

Brother Oz · 07-12-2007, 07:28 AM

Quite true. We all know we can trust governments when it comes to stamping out corruption!