A 5th Generation Fighter , Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000)

INTRODUCTION
The Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000) is a result of joint efforts on the part of UK, Germany, Italy and Spain to develop a 5th Generation fighter capable of engaging all contemporary threats like the Flanker and Fulcrum series of fighters. The aircraft was designed with Air Dominance as its primary mission, and ground attack being the secondary. To achieve better combat performance than the enemy fighters, the Eurofighter Typhoon had to be endowed with features like unstable design, carefree handling, advanced sensor suite and defensive counter-measures, ultra long-range missiles and a top-end cockpit.

ECR-90 CAPTOR
The CAPTOR radar is the primary sensor of the Typhoon. It is a third generation coherent X-band (8 to 12 GHz) multi-mode Pulse Doppler system developed from GEC's Harrier FA.2 Blue Vixen system. Some features of the CAPTOR system are -
• It uses DAS (Data Adaptive Scanning) to provide accurate information on selected targets and    minimizes unnecessary antenna movement.
• For Close Combat, CAPTOR switches to High Precision Single Target Track.
• The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode offered by Tranche-1 Eurofighter's gives a 1m    resolution (with improvement due in Tranche-2)
• The CAPTOR is mechanically scanned radar, yet it is able to interleave different modes due to    exceptional scan rates (credited to the Low inertia non-counterbalanced antenna coupled with   four high torque, high precision samarium-cobalt drive motors)
• To increase effectiveness in a heavy ECM situation, the CAPTOR has a dedicated Third    Channel to screen ECM sources. When performance degradation is detected in the radar, the    AIS compensates by using other sensors.
• 61 Shop Replaceable Items (or SRIs) and around 6 Line Replaceable Units (or LRUs) enable   the CAPTOR to be upgraded easily and give a quick maintenance turn-around.
• Tests conducted in 1997 showed that CAPTOR could track fighter-sized targets at a range of   160 kms. While this seems an exaggerated range for mechanically scanned radar, the range of   the CAPTOR radar is bound to be impressive.
• Capable of tracking 20 targets, the CAPTOR has a range accuracy of 10m, and can obtain a   target angle within 1 mm.
In the coming years, the CAPTOR will be replaced by AMSAR (Airborne Multi-mode Solid-state Active-array Radar). This radar will equip both the European fighters - the Typhoon and the Rafale (France).

PIRATE IRST
PIRATE system in the Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000) is designed to allow the Eurofighter to scan the airspace covertly. If a target is found, radar can be opened and an attack can be commenced. It incorporates both a Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) and Infra Red Search and Track (or IRST) capability. The system itself utilizes a highly sensitive Infra Red sensor mounted to the port side of the canopy. This equipment scans across wavelengths from 3 to 11 µm in two bands. This allows the detection of both the hot exhaust plumes of jet engines as well as surface heating caused by friction. Super cooling the sensor can allow detection of even small variations in temperature detected at long range. Although no definitive ranges have been released an upper limit of 80nm has been hinted at, a more typical figure would be 30 to 50nm. The actual output from the system can be directed to any of the Multi-function Head Down Displays mounted within the cockpit. Additionally the image can be overlaid on both the Helmet Mounted Sight and Head Up Display.

SELF-DEFENSE
The Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000) utilizes the DAC (Defensive Aids Computer) to create a 360-degree coverage of all threats around the aircraft. The DAC fuses all information from the RWR, MAW and LWR (RAF only).

PROPULSION
The EJ200 is an advanced design based on a fully modular augmented twin-spool low bypass layout. At its maximum dry thrust of 60kN (or 13,500lbf) the EJ200's SFC is in the order of 23g/kN.s. With reheat the engine delivers around 90-100kN (or 20,250-22,500lbf) of thrust with an SFC of some 49g/kN.s.
The engine allows the Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000) to achieve super-sonic speed (up to Mach 1.5) without the use of re-heat and also gives the it a very high Thrust-to-weight ratio, a factor that is vital in all forms of air combat.

Eurofighter Typhoon Specifications
Wing Span                           10.95m
Length                                  14.96m
Height                                   5.28m
Wing Area                             50m²
Empty Weight                          9750 kg (approx)
Internal Fuel Load                  4000 kg (approx)
External Store Load                6500 kg (approx)
Max T/O Weight                      21000 kg
Power                                    
                    · 2 EJ200 Turbofan Engines
                    · 20,000 lbf (90 kN) each with Afterburner
                    · 13,500 lbf (60 kN) each without Afterburner

Maximum Speed                     2125 km/hr
Runway Requirement            700m
Weapons & Stores
                     .27mm Mauser gun
                     · Total of 13 external stores stations
                     · Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM)                         
                     .Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (SRAAM)
                    · Four BVRAAM under fuselage
                    · Laser guided bombs
                    · Advanced anti-armour weapons
                    · Conventionally armed stand-off missiles

PNS Karrar, Pakistan Fast Moving Boat

The Turkish-origin second Multi-Role Tactical Platform (MRTP-33) attack craft, PNS Karrar, was inducted into the Pakistan Navy fleet on 12 of April, boosting the navy’s capability to defend coastal installations and strengthen its maritime interdiction role especially in the context of a multi-nation coalition force to deal with terrorists at sea.

The 35-metre-long attack craft with maximum speed of 45 knots is the second of the four vessels being acquired from Turkey under an agreement signed by the two countries in June 2006. The first such vessel, PNS Zarrar, was inducted into the Pakistan Navy fleet on Nov 26, 2007.

Many modifications in the internal design of PNS Karrar were carried out to suit PN requirements at the Dockyard. The vessel is fitted with fire-control system and decoys, while the PN is planning to mount the requisite guns and missiles in accordance with its role in coastal defence/offensive operations. The craft, also designated as VBSS (visit, board, search and seize), is designed for fast attacks, maritime interdiction operations, contact probing and protection of coastal installations. It has high stealth characteristics and can carry surface-to-surface missiles and guns.

These developments had not only enhanced the economic activity in the coastal areas but also increased the responsibilities of the Pakistan Navy to provide seaward defence. The availability of these sophisticated platforms to the fleet commander will provide him greater flexibility in execution of his tasks.

Lieutenant Commander Shafiqur Rahman has been designated first commander of this boat.

MineWolf Mine Clearance Machines, Procured by UAE

The Land Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a multi-million euro contract with BAL Bauer Industries Ltd. for the procurement of large-scale mine clearance machines “MineWolf”. The purchase follows extensive trials of the MineWolf in harsh desert conditions in the Gulf region in 2006, and includes special modifications for lifting mine fragments buried in sandy terrain to the surface.

BAL Bauer Industries Ltd., who acts as General Contractor for this contract, and MineWolf Systems were selected based on their superior technology, extensive regional experience and military know-how. The systems were delivered at the beginning of 2008 six month after contract signing and the training of the UAE personnel is being carried out at the present time.

It is the first army in the Middle East to procure the MineWolf.

The MineWolf is a tracked mine clearance machine implementing an interchangeable tiller or flail system. It has been proven effective against anti-personnel (AP) and heavy anti-tank (AT) mines in many mine-affected countries including Sudan, Jordan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia (humanitarian projects). The system is capable of clearing up to 30,000 square metres per day.

Scan Eagle UAVs, To be Bought By US Marine & Navy

The U.S. Marine Corps and the Navy intend to buy a yet-to-be determined number of Scan Eagles, which are 40-pound vertical-takeoff UAVs with electro-optical infrared sensors that can beam images from 5,000 feet.

The services currently lease Scan Eagles from their manufacturer, Bingen, Wash.-based Insitu. The Navy, Marines and U.S. Air Force have flown Scan Eagles more than 80,000 hours since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Scan Eagle takes off from a launcher and is retrieved by a rope suspended from the launcher.A compressed-air launcher catapults the vehicle with a constant acceleration.It takes up a minimum amount of desk space. It does not require a net. It just uses a rope.With no net and no runway, it can be operated from a field. There is no need of large expanse. This makes it ideal for shipborne operations.

It has been great for IED detection, running up and down the roads and seeing things before the Marines get to them.