Eurofighter and NETMA signed a contract for the development, testing, and certification of the Aerodynamic Modification Kit to be installed on the Typhoon.
Eurofighter and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) have announced the signing of a contract for the development, testing, and certification of the Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK) to be installed on the Typhoon. The new contract marks a resurgence for the AMK, which already completed a flight test campaign in 2015.
Aerodynamic Modification Kit
The development of the AMK is considered as part of the evolution of the Typhoon, which is expected to be the backbone of European air defense into the 2060s. The goal is to keep the platform operationally effective in modern scenarios, especially as new threats are proliferating and going in a different direction compared to the threats the Eurofighter was initially designed to face.
Signing the AMK contract marks a major milestone for the Eurofighter programme, further enhancing the jet’s long-term capability.
— Jorge Tamarit-Degenhardt, Chief Executive Officer of Eurofighter
Eurofighter’s statement explains that the AMK will allow “faster integration of new weapons and certification of new external loads, including future anti-radar missiles, which enable the suppression and destruction of enemy air defence radars.” Currently, the variant planned to receive anti-radar weapons is the Eurofighter EK (Elektronischer Kampf/Electronic Warfare), a dedicated SEAD/DEAD (Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defense) variant of the European jet being developed for the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) and planned to use the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM).
The statement also mentions a “core customer,” without identifying it: “Additional capabilities like cutting-edge Air-to-Ground Weapons and Air-to-Air Missiles will be integrated for the core customer in the AMK variant. Future integrations involve, among other, the latest version of standoff missiles.” This could be another reference to Germany which, as part of its Tranche 5 order, plans to introduce the Taurus NEO, the latest variant of the Taurus KEPD 350 currently in development.
The AMK is said to provide an “enhanced target acquisition and improved close-quarters combat capabilities,” thanks to extensions to the fuselage strakes, the flaperons and the leading-edge root, which Eurofighter says result in “a noticeable increase in maximum wing lift.” Notably, the components mentioned are the same that were modified for the initial variant of the AMK.
The AMK development and production will be conducted by Eurofighter Partner Companies Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, adds the statement. The kit is currently planned to be part of the Eurofighter Typhoon’s Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E), according to the company’s website.
Initial AMK Development and Testing
The Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK) was initially developed and tested by Airbus as part of a wider Eurofighter Enhanced Manoeuvrability (EFEM) program. The program included approximatively five years of studies, before a flight test campaign in 2015, which saw pilots from Germany, Italy and the UK flying 36 sorties from Manching, Germany, on the IPA7 (Instrumented Production Aircraft 7).
The kit included modified fuselage strakes (going from a rectangular shape to a triangular one), new leading-edge root extensions (LERX, which connect the leading edge closer to the root with the sides of the engines’ inlets) and larger flaperons. According to a description found on Eurofighter’s website, the AMK generates “even higher longitudinal stability.” The goal was to obtain an increase of the maximum lift created by the wing by 25%, resulting in higher turn rates, a tighter turning radius, and improved nose-pointing capability at low speeds.
To do this, the kit “reshapes” the airflow to delay the separation from the aircraft’s surface, providing controllability while flying at the edges of the flight envelope. Flight testing demonstrated angle-of-attack values up to 45% higher and roll rates up to 100% greater than the standard aircraft, as well as an increase of the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) by several hundred kilograms.
“This program has been a tremendous success with very impressive results – in some areas even better than we expected,” said Eurofighter test pilot Raffaele Beltrame. “We saw angle of attack values around 45 per cent greater than on the standard aircraft, and roll rates up to 100 per cent higher, all leading to increased agility. The handling qualities appeared to be markedly improved, providing more manoeuvrability, agility and precision while performing tasks representative of in-service operations.”
Tranche 5 and P4E
As we previously reported here at The Aviationist, the then German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced during the opening of the ILA Berlin Air Show 2024 the order of the Eurofighter Tranche 5 by the end of 2025, in addition to the 38 ordered as part of Project Quadriga. Scholz described the deal as part of the commitment to maintaining and expanding arms production capacity, as well as strengthening Germany’s commitment to NATO.
“This new order is further proof of the Eurofighter’s importance to the German Air Force and the strategic role it plays in our country’s air defence and NATO capabilities,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.
Airbus said in its press release that it will equip the 20 Eurofighters with the latest sensors. Among these is specifically mentioned the new electronic E-Scan radar, also known as the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk 1 AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar.
In parallel, Airbus says it will add new electronic warfare capabilities by integrating the Saab Arexis sensor suite in existing and newly built aircraft. This modification, although it wasn’t specifically mentioned, is part of the Eurofighter EK (Electronic Combat) configuration.
These new aircraft will likely be in the Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) configuration, also announced last year. This contains a number of new developments, including an automated sensor management capability for all Typhoon radars that will allow to exploit the capabilities of the new AESA radar to complete multiple simultaneous tasks, while reducing the pilot workload.
The package is also said to include an improved cockpit interface and enhanced Radio Frequency Interoperability (RFIO), which will improve survivability and lethality. While the development of a Large Area Display for the Typhoon has been confirmed, it is unknown at this time if it will be included in the new improved cockpit interface.
With these upgrades, the Eurofighter is planned to remain in service with the German Air Force until the 2060s. The German Ministry of Defense previously confirmed that the Eurofighters of the Tranche 5 will be used to gradually transfer the capabilities of the aging Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance).
Moreover, the Eurofighter is planned to operate alongside the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which is scheduled to be operational from 2040. Within the FCAS ecosystem, the Eurofighter will operate in a network with both current and future crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
“The continued evolution of the Eurofighter serves as an essential technological and operational bridge to a Future Combat Air System (FCAS), ensuring a seamless transition to the next generation of air power. With these additional Eurofighters, Germany strengthens its ability to conduct surveillance of its airspace and secure NATO’s skies, supporting Germany in its role as a reliable partner for collective security,” added Schoellhorn.
In addition to the Tranche 5, Germany has also approved a contract to continue the work on the Eurofighter EK. This variant was initially green-lighted by the German Government in 2023, after Airbus announced its development as the Eurofighter ECR (Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance) in 2019.
The Eurofighter EK is a dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) variant which is being developed as the successor to the Tornado ECR. Airbus will equip 15 German Eurofighters for electronic combat, which will be NATO-certified by 2030 and will then replace the Tornado ECR in the SEAD role.
The Eurofighter EK will use the AGM-88E AARGM, the Saab Arexis Electronic Warfare suite and other technologies developed by small and medium-sized enterprises and a start-up. Notably, these include an AI solution that makes it possible to analyze radar data on-board and quickly determine precise self-protection measures.
