Editing Eurofighter Typhoon (section)

===Upgrades===
In 2000, the UK selected the [[Meteor (missile)|Meteor]] from [[MBDA]] as the long range air-to-air missile armament for its Typhoons with an in-service date (ISD) of December 2011.<ref name="Meteorcontract" /> In December 2002, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden joined the British in a $1.9bn contract for Meteor on Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale and the Saab Gripen.<ref name="Meteorcontract" /> The protracted contract negotiations pushed the ISD to August 2012,<ref name="Meteorcontract" /> and it was further put back by Eurofighter's failure to make trials aircraft available to the Meteor partners.<ref name="METTRIAL" /> In 2014 the "second element of the Phase{{nbsp}}1 Enhancements package known as 'P1Eb'" was announced, allowing "Typhoon to realise both its air-to-air and air-to-ground capability to full effect".<ref name="P1Eb" />

In 2011 ''Flight International'' reported that budgetary pressures being encountered by the four original partner nations were limiting upgrades.<ref name="FILIMIT" /> For example, the four original partner nations were reluctant at that stage to fund enhancements that extend the aircraft's air-to-ground capability, such as integration of the [[MBDA Storm Shadow]] cruise missile.<ref name="MEU" />

Tranche 3 aircraft ESM/ECM enhancements have focused on improving radiating jamming power with antenna modifications, while EuroDASS is reported to offer a range of new capabilities, including the addition of a digital receiver, extending band coverage to low frequencies ([[Very high frequency|VHF]]/[[Ultra high frequency|UHF]]) and introducing an interferometric receiver with extremely precise geolocation functionalities. On the jamming side, EuroDASS is looking to low-band<ref name="DASS0" /> (VHF/UHF) jamming, more capable antennae, new ECM techniques, while protection against missile is to be enhanced through a new passive MWS in addition to the active devices already on board the aircraft. The latest support for self-protection will however originate from the new [[active electronically scanned array]] (AESA) radar which is to replace the Captor system, providing in a spiralled programme with passive, active and cyberwarfare RF capabilities. [[Selex ES]] has developed a self-contained expendable [[Digital Radio Frequency Memory]] (DRFM) [[Radar jamming and deception|jammer]] for fast jet aircraft known as [[BriteCloud]] which is being studied for integration on the Typhoon.<ref name="centurion" />

[[File:Nozzle of EJ200 afterburning turbofan (5).jpg|thumb|EJ200 TVC prototype]]
Eurojet is attempting to find funding to test [[thrust vectoring]] control (TVC) nozzles on a flight demonstrator.<ref name="FITV" /> In April 2014, BAE announced new wind tunnel tests to assess the aerodynamic characteristics of [[conformal fuel tank]]s (CFTs). The CFTs, which can be fitted to any Tranche 3 aircraft, could carry 1,500 litres each to increase the Typhoon's [[combat radius]] by a factor of 25% to 1,500 n miles (2,778&nbsp;km).<ref name="CFT" />

BAE has completed development of its Striker II Helmet-Mounted Display that builds on the capabilities of the original Striker Helmet-Mounted Display, which is already in service on the Typhoon.<ref name="STRIKER" /> Striker II features a new display with more colour and can transition between day and night seamlessly eliminating the need for separate night vision goggles. In addition, the helmet can monitor the pilot's exact head position so it always knows exactly what information to display.<ref name="STRIKER2" /> The system is compatible with [[Active noise control|ANR]], a [[3-D audio]] threats system and 3-D communications; these are available as customer options.<ref name="STRIKER3" /> In 2015, BAE was awarded a £1.7{{nbsp}}million contract to study the feasibility of a common weapon launcher that could be capable of carrying multiple weapons and weapon types on a single pylon.<ref name="CL" />

[[File:EurofighterLEX2.jpg|thumb|AMK Leading Edge Root Extension]]
Also in 2015, Airbus flight tested a package of aerodynamic upgrades for the Eurofighter known as the Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK) consisting of reshaped (delta) [[Strake (aeronautics)|fuselage strakes]], extended trailing-edge [[flaperon]]s and [[Leading–edge extension#Leading–edge root extension|leading-edge root extensions]]. This increases wing lift by 25% resulting in an increased turn rate, tighter turning radius, and improved nose-pointing ability at low speed with angle of attack values around 45% greater and roll rates up to 100% higher.<ref name="AMK" /><ref name="AMK4" /><ref name="AMK5" /> Eurofighter's Laurie Hilditch said these improvements should increase subsonic turn rate by 15% and give the Eurofighter the sort of "knife-fight in a phone box" turning capability enjoyed by rivals such as Boeing's F/A-18E/F or the Lockheed Martin F-16, without sacrificing the transonic and supersonic high-energy agility inherent to its delta wing-canard configuration.<ref name="AMK2" /> Eurofighter Project Pilot Germany Raffaele Beltrame said: "The handling qualities appeared to be markedly improved, providing more manoeuvrability, agility and precision while performing tasks representative of in-service operations. And it is extremely interesting to consider the potential benefits in the air-to-surface configuration thanks to the increased variety and flexibility of stores that can be carried."<ref name="AMK3" />

In April 2016, Finmeccanica (now Leonardo) demonstrated the air-to-ground capabilities of its Mode{{nbsp}}5 Reverse-[[Identification friend or foe]] (IFF) system which showed that it is possible to give pilots the ability to distinguish between friendly and enemy platforms in a simple fashion using the aircraft's existing transponder.<ref name="RIFF" /> Finmeccanica said [[NATO]] is considering the system as a short- to mid-term solution for air-to-surface identification of friendly forces and thus avoid collateral damages due to friendly fire during close air support operations.<ref name="RIFF" />

====UK Project Centurion upgrades====
With the confirmed retirement date of March 2019 for RAF Tornado GR4s, in 2014 the UK commenced an upgrade programme that would eventually become the £425 million Project Centurion to ensure the Typhoon was able to assume the precision strike duties of the ageing Tornado. The upgrade was delivered under different phases:<ref name="centurion" />
*Phase 0 – initial multirole upgrades.
*Phase 1/P2EA – MBDA Meteor integration and initial Storm Shadow Capability.
*Phase 2/P3EA – Full Storm Shadow capability as well as Brimstone integration.

Phase 1 standard aircraft were used operationally for the first time as part of [[Operation Shader]] over Iraq and Syria in 2018. On 18 December 2018 the RAF approved release to service for the full Project Centurion package.<ref name="centurion" />

====Proposed upgrade for German Tornado replacement====
On 24 April 2018, Airbus announced its offer to replace Germany's Panavia Tornado fleet, proposing the integration of new weaponry, performance enhancements and additional capabilities to the Eurofighter Typhoon.<ref name="FG.COM" /> This is similar to that being performed as part of the UK's Project Centurion. Integration of air-to-ground weapons already has begun on German Typhoons as part of Project Odin. Among the weapons being offered are the Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile for the anti-ship mission and the Taurus cruise missile.

The consortium is keen to make use of the engine's growth potential to boost thrust by around 15% as well as improve fuel efficiency and range. This will be combined with a new design and enlarged 1,800-litre fuel tank. The aircraft currently is fitted with 1,000-litre fuel tanks. Other modifications will include the Aerodynamic Modification Kit, test flown in 2014, to improve maneuverability and handling, particularly with heavy weapon loads. Eurofighter says it is comfortable with delivering integration of the U.S. [[B61 nuclear weapon]] onto the aircraft, a process that requires U.S. certification. Paltzo said he was confident the U.S. government would not use the certification requirements of the weapon as "leverage" to force Germany towards a U.S. platform.{{citation needed |reason=Previous 3–4 sentences are all unsourced!|date=July 2019}} A next-generation electronic warfare suite has been planned by the four-country consortium.<ref name="NEWEW" />

In November 2019, Airbus proposed a [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses|SEAD]] capability for the aircraft, a role which is currently performed by the Tornado ECR in German service. The Typhoon ECR would be configured with two Escort Jammer pods under the wings and two Emitter Location Systems at the wing tips. Armament configuration would include four MBDA Meteor, two [[IRIS-T]] and six [[SPEAR 3|SPEAR-EW]] in addition to three [[drop tank]]s.<ref name="SEAD" />

On 5 November 2020, the German government approved an order for 38 Tranche 4 with ground attack capabilities for the replacement of Tranche 1 units in German service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Germany approves billion-euro purchase of 38 Eurofighter jets |website=DW.com|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-approves-billion-euro-purchase-of-38-eurofighter-jets/a-55513389|access-date=19 March 2021|language=en-GB}}</ref>

The Luftwaffe ordered 15 ECR electronic warfare aircraft conversions for the ''Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum'' (luWES) requirement in March 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/germany-opts-for-f-35-eurofighter-to-fulfil-future-fighter-requirements |title=Germany opts for F-35, Eurofighter to fulfil future fighter requirements |work=Jane's |last=Jennings |first=Gareth |date=15 March 2022 |access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref> The 15 Typhoon EK model will be transformed from existing German Typhoons and will be equipped with [[AGM-88E AARGM]] [[Anti-radiation missile]]s. The aircraft are expected to be NATO-certified by 2030.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Trevithick |first1=Joe |title=Electronic Warfare Typhoon EK Fighter To Join German Air Force |date=30 November 2023 |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/electronic-warfare-typhoon-ek-fighter-to-join-german-air-force |publisher=The Drive |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dörr |first1=Christian |title=Airbus to make Eurofighter fit for electronic combat |url=http://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-11-airbus-to-make-eurofighter-fit-for-electronic-combat |publisher=Airbus |access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref>

The Tranche 4PE is a further development package aiming at integrating improved missiles (Meteor, Taurus, AMRAAM, GBU, JDAM).<ref>{{Cite web |last=ES&T Redaktion |date=29 April 2024 |title=Fast eine halbe Milliarde Euro für NH90, Eurofighter und Nebelhandgranaten |url=https://esut.de/2024/04/meldungen/49173/fast-eine-halbe-milliarde-euro-fuer-nh90-eurofighter-und-nebelhandgranaten/ |access-date=29 April 2024 |website=esut.de |language=de-DE}}</ref>