defense

Why Turkey should buy Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft (even if 40 F-16Vs are procured)?

The Eurofighter Typhoon, especially its most advanced variant FGR3, remains in the procurement plan of the Turkish Air Force as a multi-role fighter aircraft. Although my favourite variant is the FGR4, the fact that Turkey will naturally be able to purchase this variant behind the consortium countries waiting in line for the new variant leads me to say that I would also accept the FGR3 due to the ‘critical time’ to be lost.

What kind of a fighter aircraft is the Eurofighter Typhoon?

Originally produced as an air superiority and/or interceptor aircraft, Typhoon has been a prominent air platform in air defence missions since 2003. However, over time, like other similar fighter aircraft, it has evolved into a multi-role fighter aircraft. In the 2000s, Typhoon, which was a successful air superiority aircraft to be considered as an equivalent to the F-22, the fifth generation fighter aircraft, proved to be a superior aircraft in fighter-bomber missions with the other capabilities provided by the modern ammunition, weapons and sensors integrated into it, without giving up its air superiority capabilities.

Although Typhoon is a fourth-generation fighter aircraft, it has taken its place in the air as a good enough platform to enable the production partner countries in the consortium to move up to the next league. Undoubtedly, the fact that four countries came together in the production of fighter jets and acted jointly in many areas from design to development, from flight tests to mass production caused many days full of nightmares, especially for the programme manager and his assistants. The difficulty of progressing in critical phases of the programme by obtaining the approval of the users of all four countries is obvious. Anyone can imagine that it was a headache. However, I believe that when all four countries are on the same page, and when all four of them are able to contribute their superior capabilities to the project, the resulting set of capabilities has resulted in the development of an excellent aircraft. The combined expertise, the integration of different industrial resources into the project, and the mobilisation of multinational investment opportunities must have resulted in a powerful combination, and the Eurofighter Typhoon is such a fighter aircraft.

Typhoon: The High Performance Fighter

The Typhoon's very good propulsion performance and its flexible use in alert reaction missions, which can climb to altitudes of 40,000-50,000 feet in a short time when the button is pressed, and which can intercept enemy aircraft approaching at super cruise speed, can be offered as a capability gain to any air force that takes this aircraft into its inventory. Again, even when flying around 500 knots at low altitude, it is a highly manoeuvrable aircraft capable of pulling 9 Gs in turns without reducing speed, thanks to the high turning pole provided by its wing structure.

Typhoon's mechanical scanning radar CAPTOR is being replaced by AESA radar. FGR3s also have AESA. It is called Eurofighter Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk 2 or CAPTOR E2. BAE Systems boasts that the ECRS Mk 2 is ‘the most capable fighter radar in the world’. In addition to conventional radar functions, the ECRS Mk 2 is a multifunctional radar compatible with electronic warfare and network-enabled operations.

Compared to modern radars such as the APG-83 on the F-16 Vipers, the performance of the CAPTOR-Ms was not considered adequate. Now, the CAPTOR-E AESA radar has been added to the FGR3 variant as standard equipment. Thus, this weakness has been eliminated. AESA radars can also be integrated into previous variants of the aircraft. It is said that Typhoons have become more effective in firing air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles beyond visual range (BVR - Beyond Visual Range) with the AESA radar. It should be seen as a handicap to be able to engage targets remotely, to launch missiles, to have a radar that can see the target from much further away, but not to have a missile that can launch from such a distance. In this respect, Typhoons, which are equipped with Meteor missiles, now have the ability to see farther with AESA radars, to keep the pilot's situational awareness in the operational area at the highest level by using the sensors on it together with network-supported operational facilities, as well as having the ability to successfully engage approaching air targets at a much greater distance than, for example, an F-16 Viper.

Cockpit Design: Everything the pilot needs is close at hand and in front of his/her eyes

Modern fighter aircraft have to offer the fighter pilot sitting in the cockpit ‘close at hand, in front of his eyes’ ease of use. Like HOTAS, it is expected that the throttle lever and the switches (buttons) on the centre stack should be formal, functional and ergonomic enough not to cause confusion, so that the pilot can control them blindfolded. The voice command system integrated with this switchology should also be able to provide the pilot with a high added-value ease of use. In addition, the mission and flight computers should be able to bring all the information sets required to fly the aircraft safely, increase situational awareness, control radar and sensor modes, operate the helmet and sensor integration in harmony, and engage targets in order of priority. All these generic capabilities, which I have tried to describe as a requirement for a fighter cockpit and helmet, have been provided to Typhoon over the years. It continues to be gained. As the versions are upgraded, the aircraft acquires new capabilities with new software, and is further improved with capability leaps.

Typhoon's Weapons

Again, Typhoon pilots have the opportunity to use Litening V targeting pods (capable of taking high-resolution images and video/photo equivalent to a reconnaissance pod), which are integrated with BRIMSTONE, which is among the sought-after missiles of surface warfare, STORM SHADOW / SCALP and TAURUS KEPD 350E cruise missiles fired at targets at stand-off distances within the scope of deep operations, and SPEAR 3 (mini, long-range cruise missile) missiles used for tactical operations. I see the integration of the pilot's fuse 27 mm. machine gun into Typhoons as a weapon of last resort during close air support or dogfighting in air battles as a separate enrichment. SPECTRA, as a self-protection system, stands out as a must-have capability for Typhoon.

In the air-air context, the Typhoon, equipped with American-made AIM-120D (AMRAAM) and MBDA-made METEOR (BVRAAM) and ASRAAM missiles and AESA, continues its journey of transformation into a powerful monster with the Helmet Mounted Vision System and IRST (PIRATE). These weapons and systems are seen as performance-enhancing capabilities for Typhoon, whose initial design is an air superiority, hunting interceptor aircraft. In my previous article, I drew your attention to the fact that the US included the C-8 version of 952 AMRAAM missiles in the F-16 Viper package of 40 aircraft, that it wanted us to launch this version like the C-7, and that although it gave the most advanced version of AMRAAM, the Ds, to Norway, it did not give them to us. We know that Turkey is in the process of acquiring at least 40 Typhoons if Germany agrees, but we do not yet know some technical details such as the variant of the aircraft, the features they will have, and when they can start serving in the Turkish Air Force. However, once the Typhoons are procured, it will not be possible for us to purchase the AMRAAM D version from the US again. On the other hand, at least METEOR procurement (if the European consortium does not get in the way) seems possible with Typhoon procurement.

What is the difference between AIM 120D and METEOR?

F-16s have become identical with AMRAAM and Typhoon with METEOR missile. Our expectation is that when Turkey procures Typhoon aircraft, it will also have the option to purchase METEOR missiles. It must be so, otherwise it is unthinkable.

A brief comparison of the two missiles shows that both AIM-120D and METEOR are long-range, radar-guided BVR (beyond visual range) missiles. The biggest difference between them is that the AIM-120D is rocket propelled while the METEOR is rocket/ramjet propelled. This gives METEOR better range and better kinematic performance. In other words, METEOR missiles can travel at a higher speed towards the target than AMRAAM and, if necessary, retain their energy longer to adapt to the target's evasive manoeuvres, thus maintaining a high probability of hitting the target. This feature of the METEOR is known as a criterion that determines the superiority of the missiles over each other, especially in the terminal guidance phase (approximately 35-40 NM to the target defined for METEOR), when the missile approaches its target and its own eye opens. This feature is important in the final stage of target interception. On the other hand, the advantage of the AIM-120 is that it has a better HOBS (High Off Bore Sight) performance that allows targeting from all directions. According to open source information, AMRAAM is an air-to-air missile that is sold cheaper than METEOR.

As a footnote here, METEOR missiles can also be integrated into F-16s when necessary. The MIL-STD-1760 interface standard allows this.

Typed Warfare Readiness Training for Pilots

Typhoon pilots no longer have to train in dual control aircraft. In addition to flying the aircraft safely, the training infrastructure required for the pilot to be able to use all these abilities I have mentioned with mastery is used in the training of Typhoon pilots with the simulator system. The flights performed in the advanced simulator can enable the pilot to master enough to fly alone. According to the information I have received, an F-16 pilot, who participated in the procurement negotiations for this aircraft on behalf of the Turkish Air Force, was given a short training in the Typhoon simulator, after which he was allowed to fly the single-seat Typhoon. He made a very good flight. Based on this example, I understand that, like the F-35s, Typhoons do not require training in two-seater aircraft.

Why is Eurofighter Typhoon Procurement Essential?

The Turkish Air Force is making efforts to procure 40 F-16 Viper aircraft from the United States as of October 2021. Although in recent months, the US Congress has approved the sale of these aircraft and the 79 kits, various weapons, ammunition, radar and sensor sets included in the package, it is understood that the two countries are still far from the point of signing a final contract for this sale. Although it seems likely that this sale will be realised in some way, I believe that the Biden Administration will stall a little longer in the final approval phase, and that the final approval will be delayed until after the US presidential elections in November.

In the end, even if 40 F-16V aircraft join the Turkish Air Force inventory, the greatest asset of these aircraft is that they are multi-role rather than air superiority. Moreover, Vipers have been transformed into an aircraft that focuses more on air ground missions than the classic F-16s. I observe that improvements are being made to the Typhoon as an aircraft that can perform air-ground missions with an understanding in the opposite direction. In other words, the initial design feature of the Typhoons, namely air superiority, being an interceptor aircraft, continues to be superior to air-ground capabilities. In this context, I believe that the developments in Turkey's region necessitate the introduction of a Typhoon-like platform into the inventory.

In this context, I believe that if at least 40 Typhoons, and if possible 80-100 Typhoons, are procured, Turkey will be in a much better position to establish air superiority over the countries in its neighbourhood than it is today. In fact, I believe that in the event of a choice between two options (let's assume that it is either F-16 V or Typhoon), our preference should be Eurofighter Typhoon, because we have almost reached the point where we can substitute some of the air ground missions with armed unmanned aerial vehicles and surface-to-surface missiles. Undoubtedly, there is still a long way to go. On the other hand, despite the positive developments in the Hisar and Siper systems in the field of air defence, I believe that Turkey will continue to be vulnerable in the near term, and that it will take time to close the gap. Therefore, in the short term, until the MMU KAAN makes progress, i.e. until 2040, I consider the Typhoon procurement to be essential for our national defence in meeting Turkey's need for fighter aircraft that will ease Turkey's hand.

New Aircraft Means, to Construct New Military Infrastructure Facilities

It is known that Eurofighter and Viper aircraft are not seen as substitutes for each other. Our F-16 Block 30 aircraft, the oldest fighter aircraft in our inventory, are also in the process of being upgraded with ÖZGÜR modernisation. We know that Block 40/50 ÖZGÜR modernisations will be added to these aircraft in the future. Therefore, Turkey does not have any fighter aircraft that it intends to remove from the inventory, except for the few remaining F-4 2020s. Considering the realisation of all ongoing projects (F-16 ÖZGÜR, F-16 Viper, Eurofighter Typhoon, MMU Kaan, Armed HÜRJET, ANKA III, KIZILELMA, etc.), the total number of fighter aircraft (manned/unmanned) will be more than twice the current number with the entry of these aircraft into the inventory. From this point of view, I believe that the Turkish Air Force, with the support of the Ministry of National Defence and the Presidency of Defence Industries, should conceptualise its infrastructure needs such as shelters, new air bases, additional runways, etc. with a new understanding, put them forward as a concept and go for a new concept-based structuring. Time is passing quickly. These should be done before it is too late.