TYPHOON LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

摘要

Amid a strategy that sets out new capabilities in a bid to garner potential new sales, Combat Aircraft Journal evaluates the latest developments for the Eurofighter Typhoon as it strives to win the Finnish HX fighter competition. FINLAND COMMENCEDTHE HX Challenge in January, the latest phase in its comprehensive search for a new fighter aircraft that will replace the Ilmavoimat's (Finnish Air Force's) fleet of F/A-18C/D Hornets. The first contender in this evaluation was the Eurofighter Typhoon, with BAE Systems leading the bid at a crucial time for the fighter. The HX Challenge was all about proving the credentials that have been laid out in the five separate bids for Finland from the teams hoping to sell the Eurofighter, the Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS 39 Gripen E, Boeing F/A-18E/F Block III and the Lockheed Martin F-35. The HX Challenge saw the respective aircraft deploying in pairs to Pirkkala air base, near Tampere, and being required to fly missions alongside Finnish aircraft in several different combat scenarios to demonstrate the ability of the aircraft to handle each of these exercises. These encompassed the full range of mission sets from close air support (CAS) to offensive counter-air (OCA).