Britain backs off on Typhoon Tranche 1 transfer to Ukraine
The United Kingdom will not transfer Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 jets to Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian portal Defense Express. London made this decision due to the limited combat capabilities of the Typhoons.
The United Kingdom has decided to withdraw Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 jets from service. As reported by Defense Express, these aircraft will not be transferred to Ukraine, despite earlier speculations. London's decision is due to the limited combat capabilities of these aircraft and their technical condition.
The future of Eurofighter Tranche 1
According to Defense Express, of the 49 Tranche 1 fighters, 17 have already been withdrawn, and 11 are in storage. One of them is to be scrapped soon, and 10 will be dismantled for spare parts. Four aircraft will be used for technical training, and only two may be sold abroad.
Limited combat capabilities
The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1, delivered since 2002, has limited combat capabilities compared to the newer versions. Although they have undergone modernisation to Block 5, their combat value is questionable. Upgrading to newer versions turned out to be too costly, discouraging the British from further investment. Defense Express also points out that the fact that only two of the 49 fighters can be sold demonstrates how limited their combat value is.
We should clarify that the Eurofighter Typhoon is a versatile fighter jet developed through the collaboration of Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. Its design features delta wings and a canard configuration. This uncommon solution has gained popularity only in recent decades, providing excellent manoeuvrability at both low and high speeds, including supersonic.
Equipped with two engines, the Eurofighter Typhoon can achieve a maximum speed of Mach 2, or approximately 1,220 mph (1,960 km/h). Furthermore, it can maintain supersonic flight without using afterburners, reaching Mach 1.2 (about 760 mph or 1,220 km/h).
The Eurofighter Typhoon can carry a wide range of weaponry on 13 pylons, which together can hold over 9,000 kilograms of payload. Among the available weapon options are medium-range air-to-air missiles, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM and MBDA Meteor, short-range missiles IRIS-T, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, anti-tank missiles Brimstone, guided bombs from the Paveway or JDAM/ER family, and TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missiles.
