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Mensaje: <blockquote data-quote="Phantom_II" data-source="post: 42499" data-attributes="member: 8">Know Thine Enemy A critical question needed to be answered before detailed requirements for the Typhoon were set: Who is the enemy? At the time when the Typhoon was first conceived, the answer to that question was obvious: the military forces of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Work on the Eurofighter was accelerated by the introduction of the Su-27 and MiG-29 in the early 1980s. They were highly maneuverable fighters with good BVR capabilities and were armed with advanced R-27R/RE medium-range missiles. Basic NATO fighters of European countries would have problems dealing with them, especially the F-4 Phantoms operated at that time by the UK, Germany, and Spain, as well as the F-104S Starfighters operated by Italy. And who is the enemy now? There are different points of view. For the UK, enemies are likely to be unstable countries located outside of Europe, such as rogue countries that sponsor international terrorism and failed states that provide terrorist bases. A military operation against such countries, ranging from full-scale conflict to low-intensity stabilization operations, would likely see the participation of UK forces. However, it has been assumed that British forces would not conduct such operation alone, but rather as a part of an international coalition. Thus, not all capabilities are necessary, since they would be provided by other allied countries, primarily the US. In addition, from the RAF's point of view, most of those potential enemies do not possess state-of-the art air forces, so stealth capabilities are not necessary. On the other hand, though good BVR capabilities and significant dogfight capabilities are appreciated, as well as large loads of precision weapons and adequate range to conduct air-to-ground missions from available air bases, not always located close to the potential targets or even the battlefield (when CAS/BAI is considered). And there is also one more factor: the RAF will also be getting F-35 JSF stealth aircraft. Therefore, it will have stealth fighters for the initial phase of the fight for air superiority in full-scale conflicts, while Typhoons would assess the effects of initial Tomahawk and stealth-fighter strikes, deliver a considerable load of ordnance on desired targets, and loiter over battlefield for long time, ready to provide air cover or CAS at the same time, as the situation dictates. For Germany, meanwhile, the main focus is still homeland defense, and the air-defense fighter-interceptor is the main role of its Typhoons. Potential enemies can be countries beyond the eastern NATO frontier, as those countries are not fully democratic, are unstable, and still posses tremendous military potential (see "Loose Cannons in Eastern Europe, Part I: Ukraine" and "Loose Cannons in Eastern Europe, Part II: Belarus and Moldova". Should the situation in those countries take a turn in the wrong direction, Germany must maintain basic homeland-defense capabilities. Although the development of such situation seems to be unlikely in the nearest future, defense capabilities in the major areas, like multirole fighters, are not built overnight. Multirole fighters must stay in service for decades, and the political situation cannot be forecast for such a long time. Providing full security to the homeland is the highest-priority task for armed forces, and even when no significant threat currently exists, they must be prepared for the uncertain future. Of course, now Germany also sees the Typhoon as also having a role in overseas operations, but all of the air-to-ground capabilities are to be employed as they are in coalition contingency operations should such a situation arise. Italy and Spain, as Mediterranean countries, are closer to the Arab nations of North Africa, which might potentially present a threat in various forms. For both Italy and Spain, homeland defense is of equal importance as overseas contingency operations, and homeland defense consists primarily of providing adequate air defense of their territories. Thus, in both countries, the Typhoon is to be an air-defense fighter, with some attack capabilities included. The main difference is that Italy is going to purchase F-35 JSFs to replace its AMX attack aircraft, while Spain will continue to operate modernized EF-18s, and these will be tasked primarily with air-to-ground, anti-ship, and basic SEAD missions. Italy's Typhoons will replace mainly F-104S and F-16A/B aircraft and will take over their tasks in the country's air-defense system. Spanish Eurofighter missions will be similar to those assigned to the country's EF-18s, so the both air-to-air and air-to-ground, missions (as well as anti-ship and SEAD) are future possibilities. Total Production Tranche Single-Seater Two-Seater Total 1 96 52 148 2 211 25 236 3 213 23 236 Total 520 100 620 Production by Nation Nation Single-seater Two-Seater Total UK 195 37 232 Germany 147 33 180 Italy 106 15 121 Spain 71 15 87 Austria 14 4 18 UK Tranche Single-Seater Two-Seater Total 1 37 18 55 2 83 6 89 3 75 13 88 Total 195 37 232 Germany Tranche Single-Seater Two-Seater Total 1 28 16 44 2 58 10 68 3 61 7 68 Total 147 33 180 Italy Tranche Single-Seater Two-Seater Total 1 19 10 29 2 43 3 46 3 44 2 46 Total 106 15 121 Spain Tranche Single-Seater Two-Seater Total 1 12 8 20 2 27 6 33 3 33 1 34 Total 72 15 87 First flights of production aircraft Serial Military No. Date Remarks GT001 30+01 13.02.03 German Air Force two-seater IT001 CSX55092 14.02.03 Italian Air Force two-seater BT001 ZJ800 14.02.03 UK Royal Air Force two-seater ST001 CE.16-01 17.02.03 Spanish Air Force two-seater GS002 30+07 22.10.04 German Air Force single-seater (flown earlier than GS001/30+06) IS001 MMX7235 09.07.04 Italian Air Force single-seater BS001 ZJ910 11.05.04 UK Royal Air Force single-seater SS001 C.16-21 Spanish Air Force single-seater</blockquote>

Verificación: Guerra desarrollada entre Argentina y el Reino Unido en 1982