The Eurofighter:The Cutting Edge

The Eurofighter:Cockpit(inactive)

***** The Eurofighter:Countermeasure Diagram
DESIGN
The aircraft is constructed of carbon fibre composites, glass-reinforced plastic, aluminium lithium, titanium and aluminium casting. Stealth technology features include low frontal radar cross-section, passive sensors and supercruise ability.
The foreplane / delta configuration is intentionally aerodynamically unstable which provides a high level of agility (particularly at supersonic speeds), low drag and enhanced lift. The pilot controls the aircraft through a computerised digital fly-by-wire system which provides artificial stabilisation and gust elevation to give good control characteristics throughout the flight envelope.The quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control system has an Automatic Low Speed Recovery System (ALSR) which provides the pilot with visual and audio low speed warning and will, if necessary, automatically take control of the aircraft and return to safe flight.
The BAE Systems Striker Helmet Mounted Symbology System (HMS) and head up display show the flight reference data, weapon aiming and cueing, and the FLIR imagery. BAE Systems TERPROM ground proximity warning system is being fitted.

COCKPIT
The pilot's control system is a Voice-Throttle-and-Stick system (VTAS). The stick and throttle tops house 24 fingertip controls for sensor and weapon control, defence aids management, and inflight handling. The direct voice input allows the pilot to carry out mode selection and data entry procedures using voice command.The cockpit has three multi-function colour Head-Down Displays (MHDD) which show the tactical situation, systems status and EADS digital map displays.

Technical information
Intended service life of 6,000 hours or 25 years. Maintainability features include a single engine change by four engineers in 45 minutes and an operational turn-round by six ground crew in 25 minutes.

Power Plant
Two Eurojet EJ200 advanced technology turbofans each of approximately 60 kN (13,490 lb st) dry and 90 kN (20,250 lb) nominal thrust with afterburning, mounted side by side in the rear fuselage with ventral intakes. The first two development aircraft were originally powered by two Turbo-Union RB199-122 (Mk 104E) afterburning turbofans (each more than 71.2 kN or 16,000 lb st). Both aircraft were retrofitted with EJ200s in 1998. Single-stage turbines drive the three-stage fan and five-stage HP compressor.
The engine features: digital control; wide chord aerofoils and single crystal turbine blades; a convergent /divergent exhaust nozzle; and integrated health monitoring.

Fuel
The internal fuel capacity is classified, but believed to total approximately 5,700 litres in two fuselage tanks and two integral wing tanks. The two-seat trainer lacks the forward transfer tank, but partly offsets the loss of capacity with an auxiliary tank in the enlarged spine. Provision for in-flight refuelling and up to three suspended, external fuel tanks: two 1,000 litre or 2,000 litre underwing, plus one 1,000 litre centreline tank. Only the smaller tanks are rated for supersonic flight. The conformal tanks can be installed or removed in 75 minutes.

Accommodation
Pilot(s) on a Martin-Baker Mk 16A zero/zero ejection seat(s). Single-piece Aerospace Composite windscreen and single-piece, rear-hinged canopy on both versions. Optional liquid-cooled vest for pilot. Helmet-mounted display. The Anti-g trousers are augmented by a pressure breathing system

     
COUNTERMEASURES
The aircraft's Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS) is accommodated within the aircraft structure and integrated with the avionics system.
DASS has been developed by the EuroDASS consortium - Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems (formerly BAE Systems Avionics) of the UK (prime contractor), Elettronica of Italy and Indra of Spain. The consortium was rejoined in October 2001 by EADS, after the German Federal Ministry of Defence contracted to re-enter the programmme.
DASS provides an all-round prioritised assessment of threats with fully automatic response to single or multiple threats.
DASS includes an Electronic Countermeasures / Support Measures system (ECM/ESM), front and rear missile approach warners, supersonically capable towed decoy systems, laser warning receivers and SaabTech Electronics BOL chaff and flare dispensing system. The avionics system is based on a NATO standard databus with fibre optic highways.

SENSORS
The aircraft is equipped with a CAPTOR (ECR 90) multi-mode X-band pulse Doppler radar, developed by the Euroradar consortium. The multi-mode radar has three processing channels. The third channel is used for jammer classification, interference blanking and sidelobe nulling. Euroradar is led by Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems, with Indra of Spain, FIAR of Italy and EADS Defence Electronics of Germany.
The PIRATE (Passive Infra-Red Airborne Track Equipment) is mounted on the port side of the fuselage, forward of the windscreen. PIRATE has been developed by the EUROFIRST consortium which comprises Galileo Avionica (FIAR) of Italy (lead contractor), Thales Optronics of the UK (system technical authority) and Tecnobit of Spain.
PIRATE operates in both 3-5 and 8-11 micron spectral bands. When used with the radar in an air-to-air role, it functions as an Infrared Search and Track system (IRST), providing passive target detection and tracking.
In an air-to-surface role, it performs multiple target acquisition and identification, as well as providing a navigation and landing aid. PIRATE provides a steerable image to the pilot's helmet-mounted display.