Eurofighter Reveals Enhancements for Typhoons

New Eurofighter Typhoon capabilities that will potentially be implemented with three Arabian Gulf clients were revealed at the Dubai Air Show on Monday.

The program's capability manager, Paul Smith, a former UK RAF pilot and Fighter Weapons School instructor, said that work on integrating major new capabilities onto the aircraft is now "well advanced" and "delivering promising results."

"We are having one of the busiest flight test periods in the program's history and the integration of the enhanced weapons-mix is well advanced and delivering promising results," he said.

"Throughout 2015, we have been conducting a series of flight tests with our Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA), working on the integration of major new weapon-systems capability with a particular focus on both Storm Shadow and Meteor missiles," he said. "At the same time, the Eurofighter continues to deliver effective and proven air power in both the Middle East and the Baltic states. This is a dynamically challenging and exciting time for the program, with its weapon system capabilities continuing to grow."

Kuwait announced its intention to acquire 28 Eurofighter Typhoons in September to become the third GCC customer of the consortium.

The Sultanate of Oman announced its purchase of 12 aircraft in December 2012 while the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently operating Typhoons in its ongoing Yemen campaign.

Smith added that flight testing for the Phase 2 Enhancement Capability Update Program was conducted last month. The program introduces the Meteor and Storm Shadow missiles to the aircraft, as well as enhancements to the radar, defensive aids sub-system (DASS) and other avionics which will enhance the aircraft's lethality and survivability across all roles.

"The testing regime over the last few months has been relentless, and IPA6, a BAE Systems-based Eurofighter Typhoon, made the first flights with the new software and completed the fifth Meteor missile firing. Flight test of multiple enhancements to the integration and functionality of the Laser Designator Pods (LDP) has primarily been carried out by flight test engineers and aircrew from Airbus Defence and Space, Germany. IPA6 has since been joined by Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi's IPA2 as work on the integration of Storm Shadow continues," he said.

During November, he added, further integration work with Storm Shadow, including missile releases and preparation for the next Meteor missile firing, will be done.

"Airbus Defence & Space, Spain will join as the fourth flight test Ccenter as IPA4 is cleared to commence testing with a focus on weapons system performance and comms. This is the entire flight test community operating together to deliver real capability enhancement," he said.

By 2017 Eurofighter operators will be able to integrate the Brimstone 2 on the aircraft and will also further enhance other existing weapons capabilities — including Storm Shadow, Meteor, Paveway IV and ASRAAM.

Finmeccanica Completes First Tests for NATO Cyber Security System

The Finmeccanica Cyber Solutions team selected in February 2012 to fulfil the NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) – Full Operating Capability (FOC) requirement, has completed the testing phase of the programme’s Proof of Concept in line with the challenging timescale set by NATO. NCIRC FOC will provide a highly adaptive and responsive system to help protect NATO from cyber-attacks against both its mobile and static Communication and Information Systems.

This world-class team led by Finmeccanica (FNC IM, SIFI.MI), comprising its companies SELEX Elsag, SELEX Systems Integration and VEGA, together with its partner Northrop Grumman, is leveraging its wealth of experience in addressing complex cyber-defence requirements.

The completion of the testing phase of the Proof of Concept, confirms that the programme continues to meet its objectives and demonstrates the value of the team’s multi-national capability, leadership in the development and delivery of cyber defence solutions, and unrivalled experience of multi-domain cyber programmes for government and defence customers in the US, UK, Italy and other countries around the world.

Once delivered, NCIRC FOC will provide an agile, flexible and interoperable solution featuring advanced cyber defence systems to protect NATO static commands, crisis operations, NATO signal battalions, Article V Operations and the NATO Reaction Force.

“With the completion of the testing of the Proof of Concept, we have achieved an important stage in delivering the NCIRC FOC. This reflects the growing partnership between NATO, Finmeccanica and our Northrop Grumman partner,” said Giuseppe Orsi, Chairman and CEO of Finmeccanica.

“Through our chosen solution, NATO will be able to improve their capability to counter the ever increasing and sophisticated threat from cyber-attack.

“The successful achievement of this important milestone is a further step towards full implementation of NATO’s CIRC capability and demonstrates the growing strength of the partnership we have established on this programme”, said Mike Papay, Vice President Cyber Initiatives of Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

“We look forward to continuing to apply the full range of our resources and decades-long cyber security experience both in the U.S and U.K., to ensure the successful delivery of this programme.”