Tranche 3
The Tranche 3 aircraft have not yet been defined, since the contract for them is expected in next few years. The plans are that Tranche 3 will cover Block 20 and Block 25 aircraft, produced from 2013 to 2015. Tranche 3 most likely will introduce Captor-E radar with an AESA type of antenna, increasing range, and the number of possible target tracks. On the Block 25, it will be probably a NOTAR [not only a radar]
, highly integrated with the aircraft's avionics and performing such functions as supporting the ESM and ECM systems.
Special effort is to be directed toward reducing the RCS of the Typhoon. One option being considered, aside from the introduction of new-generation RAM, is the elimination of the vertical tail and replacing its functions with thrust vectoring
. In addition, IR signature and electromagnetic emissions are to be reduced considerably.
Block 20 aircraft are also to introduce enhanced naval attack functions, including the carrying of anti-ship missiles of an as-yet-unspecified type. Block 25 is so remote, though that all the features of this version discussed in the press can be treated as pure speculation.
Now the eye catching bit, is the removal of the vertical tail and replacement with thrust vectoring. Now I can understand just adding the thrust vectoring, no doubt that would turn this into an aircraft/blender. But the removal of the tail? not only butt ugly but possible?
