Configuration/aerodynamics
The "Eurofighter possesses a delta CAN pool of broadcasting corporations interpretation for high flight performances and high Agilitaet in all speed ranges. Those under the trunk lying air intakes provide for an excellent flowing against behavior, also with high angles of incidence. The airplane unites a high lift wing with low flight structural weight and very strong engines. It is inherently aerodynamically unstable. Without the computer-assisted control the bird would break out violently upward, it would not be not controllable by a pilot.
Without extreme stealth characteristics with the development of the Eurofighter was done, one tried only the?natuerlichen as far as possible? To keep as small radar cross section as possible. This entails a considerable cost saving. Such characteristics, like them the F-22 or the F-117a possess are useful only with the employment in spacious even areas in middle or large heights. The Eurofighter however conceived for the BVR employment, for this is sufficient as small a radar cross section as possible. In addition it comes still that for a stealth airplane the weapon load must be carried internally, which limits their extent rather.
The Eurofighter is at present after F-22, F-117a and B-2 the airplane with the lowest radar cross section. It amounts to about 1/7 the Su-27 or 1/3 of F/a-18 or Rafale
STRUCTURE
It takes place an arrangement in arrangement in forward fuselage, central trunk, tail, left wing, right wing and vertical stabilizer. The construction took place also under the criterion to create an airplane with as small a radar cross section as possible. This completely succeeds without the use of any active-radar-absorbing materials or geraetschaften. The reasons for it are the successful construction of cell and wing unit, which wide use of carbon fiber composite materials, aluminum and titanium, which led also to a weight reduction, as well as the mounting of the armament, semi-flush under the trunk. The cell is appropriate for 6000 flying hours or 25 years use with load factor up to 9g.
Flight control
This been made by a digital, 4-kanaliges Fly By Wire system (triple redundant), which the movements over sensors, implemented by the pilot at the control stick, takes up, into which four existing computers processes and as control signals to the servo actuators attached to the surfaces and flaps passes on. The flight control covers likewise the armament and the fuel supply.
The Flight control of computer (FCCs) is both among themselves and in each case connected with the individual sensors and announcements.
The Flight control system (FCS) guarantees a?carefree handling? (CFH), which means that the pilot cannot damage its machine with flight maneuvers overloads and her, but the FCS will fly only such maneuvers, whatever the Eurofighter in the respective situation?vertraegt?.
The FCS is likewise responsible for the flight control, which covers not only an autopilot, but also automatic patrol flights and attacks. for the disoriented pilot it gives also still. With manipulation the airplane is brought automatically into an easy climb.
Armament
This consists various released weapons of Kurz-und medium-range missiles for the aerial combat, mounted gun, as well as the defense auxiliary system THAT and explained on another side still more exactly.
Avionics
It is developed modular and is divided into the subsystems communication, navigation, Anzeige-und control mechanisms, fire control/identification and EW.
Fire control
With the search for suitable radar for the Eurofighter there were two possibilities. First was new development, which was however already not selected for costing and time reasons. The other alternative was the employment of existing equipment or the advancement of such.
To the selection stood more?Foxhunter? the Tornado automatic data processing, the?Blue Vixen? the Sea Harrier FA.Mk 2 as well as the American An/apg-65. The latter was particularly preferred by Germany, since one had gained good experiences with the equipment in the F-4f of the Federal Air Force and a considerable cost saving because of a resort to existing logistics expected. Also AEG was involved in the production. Spain was also not to be used straight averse this radar, since one already flew the F/a-18. For the letztliche refusal an export restriction for certain necessary construction units finally spoke, in order to adapt the radar to the demanded achievements. It may not be forgotten that the An/apg-65 is a radar developed for the F/a-18. Without the appropriate adjustment it corresponded however to the requirements, above all which concerned the BVR capacities only very insufficiently. The next candidate was more?Foxhunter?, which was painted however because of wrong range of the used frequencies.
Still the?Blue Vixen remained?, which corresponded to the requirements from the beginning to a European radar best. It served therefore also as basis for the?ecr-90?. A consortium of firms was assigned the production. The individual manufacturers are:
GEC Avionics: Receiver, antenna, signal processor
FIAR: Transmitter
Inisel: Antenna platform, test equipment
The first radar was finished in only 18 days, 15 prototypes is to be tested altogether. There were larger problems only with the radome, which breakdown marks caused.
In the cockpit there is no own radar price increase, all functions over the HOTAS system is selected.
The use of a?normalen? electromechanically steered antenna of some experts as advantage opposite a phase-controlled array antenna one regards, since their technology did not develop for the moment yet.
The radar offers a multiplicity of air-to-air and air-to-surface modes and is fully and look down capable of of look UP. It can identify and them to priorities assign automatically airborne targets. Among the air-to-surface modes the automatic clearing-up and pursuit of mobile goals, Kartografierung, gelaendedarstellung, ranging or filtering spurious signals caused by waves rank during flights over water. Automatic weapon delivery is supported likewise. The radar is relatively insensitive opposite ECM
now this is a aircraft that shouldn't be messed with :smokingc:
