Equipped with new P1E software, a Eurofighter Typhoon in a multirole configuration featuring both air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons (2 GBU-16 plus 1 Laser Designation Pod plus 2 AIM-9L plus 2 underwing tanks) recently conducted the first laser guided, self designating, simultaneous guided bomb drops: in other words, the European jet attacked and destroyed two different targets at the same time.
Image credit: Eurofighter
According to Eurofighter, further successful tests were conducted using the same two-seater plane with 2 x SRAAM, 4 x AMRAAM, 2 x underwing tanks, 4 x GBU-16 and 1 x LDP pod; approximately double the F-16 weapons load.
The tests were aimed at proving that the Typhoon is not only an air dominance fighter capable to achieve some F-22 kills in mock aerial combat during last year’s Red Flag Alaska, but is also an effective precision air-to-surface platform, as proved by the Libya Air War.
“P1E brings full simultaneous multi-role capabilities to the Air Forces currently operating the Eurofighter Typhoon with full integration of the Litening II Laser Designation Pod and Precision Guided Munitions. P1E also delivers Mode 5 IFF, improved Radios and Direct Voice Input, Air-to-Surface integration of the Helmet Mounted Sight System, improved Air-to-Air capabilities including digital integration of Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles, updated MIDs functionalities for enhanced interoperability with coalition forces, and many aspects from the popular UK Radar and Drop programmes which delivered improvements to the Tranche 1 aircraft” Eurofighter says.
Future enhancement programmes will integrate even more weapon systems and capabilities to the aircraft such as Storm Shadow, Brimstone and the Meteor missiles.
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“…attacked and destroyed two different targets at the same time.”
With one designator and two weapons dropped simultaneously (as per the photo), you can only attack one target at a time, not two different targets.
Well, they just did. I don’t know the details but it is possible that the designator switchs between the two targets at a high rate, designating each one with a different frequency so each bomb goes where it is supposed to go.
I’m guessing one was laser guided and one GPS guided
They said “laser guided”
Well that only took 25+ years, good work Europeans!
2 targets at the same time…sure not! Two bombs on the same one for sure, as every aircraft should be used to do. As typhoon always had some FCS system troubles it can looks like that it s a great achievement to drop 2 bombs. Then, twice the F16 load…amazing for a plane so much expensive.
And, please keep in mind that no cruise missile, no JDAM, rockets, Brimstone nor Recce pod will or could be carried by a typhoon, so explained me how could you consider an aircraft doing less than an F18, being an omnirole aircraft?
Typhoon is bring intregrated with Storm Shadow (cruise missile), Brimstone, Recce Pods, Meteor, Harpoon and more as time goes on so it will certainly have them. It most certainly is an omnirole/swingrole aircraft.
In same conditions, with a Rafale You can carry:
-designation pod
-3×2200 liters in external tanks
-6 guided Weapons
-4 air to air missiles (6 if french air force want to open the point N°3)
it the difference between a plane designed for air to ground mission, and an other, like the F-15 “not a pound for air to ground”