Eurofighter/Rafale in Service

[JBodnar39]

I am trying to get a more accurate picture on how many of the Eurofighter and Rafale's are actually in service and with what types of units (Test/OCU/fighter sqds). Here is what I have. Any additional information would be greatly apprecitated.

FRANCE
10 Rafale M (Navy) active combat unit
9 Rafale B/5C - OCU/Training
6 Rafale B/C/M - Dassault FTC

UK
7 Eurofighter Two-Seaters - OCU
6 Eurofighter Two-Seaters/2 Single Seaters - Test


GERMANY
6 Eurofighter Two-Seaters/5 Single Seaters - OCU/Test


ITALY
6 Eurofighter Two-Seaters/8 Single Seaters - OCU


SPAIN
6 Eurofighter Two-Seaters/8 Single Seaters - OCU

 

[DoC_FouALieR]

Hmm the French Navy operates 12 Rafale Marine.

 

[Musashi_kenshin]

No. 3 squadron (RAF) is now equipped with Typhoons, due to be formally declared operational next year.

No. 6 and 11 squadrons are supposedly scheduled to convert in 2008 and 2007 respectively.

Not sure if that helps at all.

 

[contedicavour]

I am trying to get a more accurate picture on how many of the Eurofighter and Rafale's are actually in service and with what types of units (Test/OCU/fighter sqds). Here is what I have. Any additional information would be greatly apprecitated.

FRANCE
10 Rafale M (Navy) active combat unit
9 Rafale B/5C - OCU/Training
6 Rafale B/C/M - Dassault FTC

UK
7 Eurofighter Two-Seaters - OCU
6 Eurofighter Two-Seaters/2 Single Seaters - Test


GERMANY
6 Eurofighter Two-Seaters/5 Single Seaters - OCU/Test


ITALY
6 Eurofighter Two-Seaters/8 Single Seaters - OCU


SPAIN
6 Eurofighter Two-Seaters/8 Single Seaters - OCU

Hmm I think your data is about 6-8 months old. In Italy we now have 18 delivered Typhoons, with 4-6 more by end CY 2006. All are concentrated in the 4th Wing at Grosseto. This unit has 2 fully active fighter squadrons, running combat air patrols and scramble flights covering all of central Italy. Though you are right that the unit will also serve as OCU with its 2-seaters.
I suggest you check each country's air force internet site.

cheers

 

[Waylander]

The last news said that we have 23 operational EFs.
Most of them are in Laage were also our crews are introduced from MiG29A and F-4 Phantom II. 4 just entered service in a second wing in Neuburg. This will be the first true operational wing without any training missions.

 

[Grand Danois]

A quick look at Eurofighters website.

4 July 2006 - Second German Air Force Wing Takes Eurofighter Typhoon - Seventh Eurofighter unit in Operation

Hallbergmoos – Fighter Wing 74 (Jagdgeschwader JG 74) of the German Air Force will take delivery of its first four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft tomorrow at their air base in Zell, near Neuburg/Donau.

Fighter Wing 74 will focus purely on operational and tactical flying, in comparison to Fighter Wing 73 at Rostock-Laage, whose responsibilities in addition to their operational role also include the pilot training for the German Air Force and the conversion to type of the Austrian Eurofighter pilots. The German Air Force has already accumulated over 2,000 flying hours on Eurofighter Typhoon.

In total, the four Air Forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom have flown over 9,600 hours of flying up to the beginning of July in operating the 84 aircraft delivered to the four Nations. In addition to Germany’s 23 aircraft, Italy have received 16, Spain are operating 14, and the United Kingdom 31. Eight further aircraft are ready for handover to the Air Forces.

With JG 74, the number of Eurofighter Typhoon units in the four Partner Nations has increased to seven:

• Ala 11 at Morón, Spain,

• 4 Stormo “Amadeo d’Aosta” at Grosseto, Italy

• No 3, 17 and 29 Squadron, at RAF Coningsby, United Kingdom

• JG 73 at Rostock-Laage and JG 74 at Neuburg/Donau, Germany.

In December 2005, the Italian Air Force started operations with Eurofighter Typhoon while, in the UK, No 3 Squadron received its first aircraft on 31 March 2006, making it the first operational unit of the Royal Air Force.

In addition, the Eurofighter consortium has delivered five Instrumented Production Aircraft that are operated by industry for test purposes alongside the fleet of now five Development Aircraft.

http://www.eurofighter.com/News/Article/default.asp?NewsItemId=245

 

[Waylander]

I was surprised when I first red about the numbers of operational EFs in the member states.
It looks like after the starting problems delivery works well.
I did not expect this from EADS.

 

[JBodnar39]

All of you are providing great info - it is much appreciated.

 

[Izzy1]

From BAE's internal website for Typhoon.

Numbers in service as of 07/08/2006

UK - 32
Germany - 25
Italy - 18
Spain - 15
+IPAs - 5

Total = 95


Total fleet flying time by 06/07/2006 had exceeded 9,500 hours.

 

[contedicavour]

Any news on Typhoon Batch 3 contractual advancement ?

I hope that the Saudi order will not just be taken from British Batch 3 numbers... though this rumour is very strong.

thks & cheers

 

[Izzy1]

Deliveries to the RAF will be "hampered" by prioritising RSAF's order first from Warton/Salmsbury.

Several weeks back, I posted a link on here claiming even Austrian designated production maybe diverted to Saudi.

 

[turin]

Several weeks back, I posted a link on here claiming even Austrian designated production maybe diverted to Saudi.

There is so much quarrel over the Eurofighter program in Austria, it really would tire me but thank god I'm not austrian.
Consistently there are all kinds of scenarios whats going to happen with the austrian aircraft, depending on which political party is behind the statement.
The official planning seems to be on schedule though: AS0001 (austrian single-seat) is planned for rollout around the end of 2006. AS0002 will follow in 2007, the same year four aircraft are designated for delivery to the austrian forces. This is the status according to Eurofighter GmbH as of July 26th. The current government is still standing firm to its decision over the planned procurement (as of September 1st, austrian PM in an interview) and the closer they come to receiving the aircraft, the more difficult it will be for opposing voices to realize some solid alternative including diverting received Eurofighters.

After all the austrian forces are in dire need of the aircraft, since the F-5 are on loan only and wont be there that long.

 

[Musashi_kenshin]

Any news on Typhoon Batch 3 contractual advancement ?

I hope that the Saudi order will not just be taken from British Batch 3 numbers... though this rumour is very strong.

I would be bloody-well pleased if they were. I think we ordered a few too many Typhoons and locked up too much cash in it. If the Saudis took some off our hands (maybe not all from Tranche 3), that would release cash for projects we need more urgently, like CVF or T-45s numbers 7&8.

After all, there's no reason we couldn't order more later on if we need them (and then get the cash).

 

[turin]

But as far as I'm aware, the current planning does not mean that the RAF is going to lose these EF. They merely postpone delivery of these units in favor of the Saudi order. The total number of Eurofighters the RAF is receiving will not change.

 

[Scorpion82]

Rafale:
Flottile 12F 9 aircraft (+1 for testing and one F2 currently for testing as well)
EC 1/7 "Provence" at least 21 aircraft at Mont-de-Marsan and Saint-Dizier

Eurofighter:
UK:
At least 32 aircraft with No.17(R) (OEU), No.29(R) (OCU) and No.3(F) (operational) all at Coningsby
Germany:
25 aircraft with JG 73 "S" at Laage (OCU and operational evaluation) and JG 74 at Neuburg
Italy:
17 aircraft with the 9th Gruppo of 4° Stormo at Grossetto (OCU/OUE)
Spain:
15 aircraft with the 113 Escuadron of Ala 11 at Moron

These data are from July. Probably some more aircraft has been delivered yet.

 

[Musashi_kenshin]

But as far as I'm aware, the current planning does not mean that the RAF is going to lose these EF. They merely postpone delivery of these units in favor of the Saudi order. The total number of Eurofighters the RAF is receiving will not change.

Yeah, but I was saying I would have prefered it if they were being taken out of our Tranche 3 allotment.

Bloody stupid Geoff Hoon, promising what he didn't have the money for!:flame

 

[swerve]

There is so much quarrel over the Eurofighter program in Austria, it really would tire me but thank god I'm not austrian.
Consistently there are all kinds of scenarios whats going to happen with the austrian aircraft, depending on which political party is behind the statement.
The official planning seems to be on schedule though: AS0001 (austrian single-seat) is planned for rollout around the end of 2006. AS0002 will follow in 2007, the same year four aircraft are designated for delivery to the austrian forces. This is the status according to Eurofighter GmbH as of July 26th. The current government is still standing firm to its decision over the planned procurement (as of September 1st, austrian PM in an interview) and the closer they come to receiving the aircraft, the more difficult it will be for opposing voices to realize some solid alternative including diverting received Eurofighters.

After all the austrian forces are in dire need of the aircraft, since the F-5 are on loan only and wont be there that long.

Frankly, I was astonished that Austria bought Typhoon. They're not going anywhere outside Austria, so deployability & range aren't important. They could have got more Gripens for the same money, or the same number for less money, & Gripen does everything they want. In fact, considering how they were able to intercept F-16s & the like with Drakens (knowing every inch of their valleys & flying up them helps), they could probably outclass almost anything, inside their own borders, with Gripens. They could probably have had some JAS39A on loan to tide them over until Cs could be delivered, & got delivery earlier than the Eurofighters. Shared logistics with Hungary & the Czechs. Can't see why they didn't buy them.

 

[swerve]

Bloody stupid Geoff Hoon, promising what he didn't have the money for!:flame

He never liked that job. Had never been particularly interested in defence, & he's more of an administrator than a politician, not good at the infighting, including squeezing cash from the Treasury, of which there's a lot needed at the MoD. I know his brother-in-law, & he tells me Geoff was mightily relieved to quit the job. Only took it in the first place because it was notionally a promotion.

 

[turin]

They could have got more Gripens for the same money, or the same number for less money, & Gripen does everything they want.

Actually it was vice versa: Saab thought that Austria would do everything they wanted. The Saab offer for Gripens to Austria was really crappy at the time. Apparently they were sure of having (for historical reasons) a strong standing with Austria and therefore their financial offer was less than favourable. The financial proposal for 24 fighters with rates paid over a period of 18 years was only marginally better than the one by the Eurofighter consortium, barely the value of an additional single aircraft.

They learnt their lesson though and made much better offers to the Czech Republic and Hungary. Austrian politicians who pointed out the financial characteristics of these subsequent offers, tend to ignore that the austrian procurement was different to them and the very starter for this new behavior.

 

[swerve]

Actually it was vice versa: Saab thought that Austria would do everything they wanted. The Saab offer for Gripens to Austria was really crappy at the time. Apparently they were sure of having (for historical reasons) a strong standing with Austria and therefore their financial offer was less than favourable. The financial proposal for 24 fighters with rates paid over a period of 18 years was only marginally better than the one by the Eurofighter consortium, barely the value of an additional single aircraft.

They learnt their lesson though and made much better offers to the Czech Republic and Hungary. Austrian politicians who pointed out the financial characteristics of these subsequent offers, tend to ignore that the austrian procurement was different to them and the very starter for this new behavior.

I heard about SAAB taking the Austrian purchase for granted, & virtually pushing the Austrians into the arms of the competition, but with the contacts they had with the Austrian air force, you'd think the Austrians would have been able to convince them of the folly of their ways, & get Gripens for a reasonable price. Which would, in the long run, save Austria a lot of money on operating costs. Sound to me like poor negotiating by both sides.