AFM visited the 36° Stormo to assess the Ty p h o o n ’s new swingrole capabilit y with the Italian Air Force. Riccardo Niccoli reports from Gioia del Colle.
SWING-ROLE T YPHOON
36° Stormo F-2000
From the outset, the Eurofighter Typhoon’s development path has included integrating an air-to-surface capability alongside the basic air-toair mission. This was not simply to align with British and German air arm requirements but intended to exploit the jet’s potential and win orders on the international market. Today’s Typhoon is recognised as a mature aircraft, able to excel in the air superiority role and other missions, including long-range attack and close air support (CAS).
Defence budgets are constantly being reduced in most Western nations; it tasks the military to do more with less. Operating multi-role aircraft and weapons systems is no longer an option, but an essential requirement. Of the most advanced combat aircraft in production – including the latest Russian and Chinese jets – all offer a multi-role or swing-role function and this function is being specified by all customers in the market for new fighters.
The Typhoon’s potential to utilise offensive armament dates back to 2008, when the so-cal…
