It’s time to finally welcome the Eurofighter family, joining War Thunder as the new top fighter aircraft for Germany, Great Britain and Italy. Today, we’ll be showing you the most advanced jet fighter aircraft (for now!) to come to the game!
EF-2000 Block 10, Typhoon FGR.4 and F-2000A: Jet Fighters for Germany, Great Britain and Italy at Rank VIII
At a glance:
- Ten air-to-air missiles!
- Advanced CAPTOR radar.
- PIRATE IRST (FGR.4 and F-2000A).
- Exceptional agility and flight performance.
- Brimstone missiles!
Vehicle History
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In the early 1980s, several European countries needed a replacement for their frontline fighter aircraft that had begun to slip behind more modern aircraft appearing from the US and USSR. Previous collaborative projects like the Jaguar and Tornado lead Germany, Britain, France and Italy to once again come together, along with Spain, for a new next generation all weather jet fighter project. Previous experiences led to the Agile Combat Aircraft (ACA) program and later, the Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) resulting in an airworthy technology demonstration platform. This platform could test the theory behind many of the new advanced manufacturing technologies and features required for what would become the Future European Fighter Aircraft (FEFA) programme in 1983. France would however withdraw from the program due to disagreements on requirements and control over the project.
After the turbulence of the early 90s, disagreements over the radar set and huge financial overrun, the Eurofighter had finally started to emerge. An engine consortium, EuroJet Turbo, was formed to handle the powerplant and the ECR-90 Radar (Later CAPTOR) was selected based on the Blue Vixen. First taking to the skies in 1994, it wouldn’t be until the early 2000s that the Eurofighter Typhoon would enter into service with the four core nations of the program after more development and overruns pushed the aircraft back. Initially the aircraft was heavily focused on the aerial superiority role, with later Tranches of the fighter bringing air-to-ground weaponry to its ever expanding arsenal. After more modernization programs, Typhoons have since seen combat in the 2010s, and the four original operating nations have been joined by Austria, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
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Introducing the Typhoon!
The Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the most advanced 4th (or 4.5 depending on your classification!) generation aircraft in the world today. It’s fair to say few aircraft have been as anticipated as this one! Germany, Great Britain and Italy will all be receiving a comparable version of this top jet fighter aircraft in the Storm Warning major update, providing each of these nations with a highly capable and agile fighter that also has considerable ground attack potential too. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect from the Typhoon in-game.
From an air-to-air standpoint, the Eurofighter will be able to carry a formidable combined total load of ten missiles. There’s four AIM-9 Sidewinder variants that can be taken (AIM-9L and AIM-9M for Italy and Britain, AIM-9L and AIM-9L/i in Germany) for close range engagements and six AIM-120 AMRAAMs for BVR combat. However, you could also take up to six IR missiles an four BVR missiles as an alternative combination if you wish too. Coupled with a Helmet-mounted display and the impressive CAPTOR radar set, this aircraft will be one of the deadliest in both long range and short range engagements. Should you find yourself at the wrong end of a missile, the Eurofighter will help keep you in the fight with the Defensive Aid Sub-System (DASS for short). This features a MAWS with integrated countermeasures on the aircraft, including a generous load of Chaff and Flares to counter whatever type of threat comes your way. The British and Italian versions will also feature PIRATE IRST, providing another means of locking and tracking targets without setting off their RWRs.
Interesting: The Eurofighter is unique in being a combat aircraft produced by four nations, each with their own assembly lines for components. Britain produces the front cockpit section, canards, tail and part of the rear fuselage, Germany the central fuselage, Italy the left wing and rest of the rear fuselage and Spain the right wing. Each nation has its own final assembly plant where all components are brought together.
We must not forget about the air-to-ground aspect too. Each Typhoon variant differs slightly in its arsenal, however you can expect to see the standard types of familiar bombs. Conventional 1000 and 2000 lb variants and the guided Paveway series (Mk.18 for the British version, GBU-48 for Germany and Italy), coupled with a LITENING III targeting pod and GPS Guided GBU-54s. All three Typhoon variants can fire the excellent Brimstone missile and also feature a single 27 mm cannon mounted in the wing root, suitable for lighter ground targets or those moments when you do get guns on air targets. The British FGR.4 variant also comes with a laser warning receiver, so should someone lock you up via laser guidance, even that won’t go unnoticed to the Typhoon.
Weaponry aside, the Eurofighter is an impressive platform in the flight performance department too. A pair of EuroJet EJ200 engines provide an exceptional amount of thrust up to 18,000 kgf, meaning the aircraft can quickly recover lost energy and achieve an excellent rate of climb. Its frontal canards provide great turning agility, so should things get up close and personal, the Typhoon will be able to keep up with the best of the competition.
You won’t have much longer to wait now until the Eurofighter will be joining the ranks of the German, British and Italian aviation trees. Stay tuned to the news to find out what other things there are to look forward to in the Storm Warning major update for War Thunder!
Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
