Eurofighter Typhoon nothing comes close

Sensor fusion is the processing of information received and transmitted by the key aircraft sensors. This information is presented to the pilot clearly and accurately, in an uncluttered fashion, to allow for safe and efficient single seat operation in the swing-role environment. The high level of integration and sharing of information between the various sub-systems gives the pilot an autonomous ability to assess rapidly the overall tactical situation and respond efficiently to identified threats.

The CAPTOR Radar has been developed by the Euroradar consortium and is the best performing type of its class. The multi-mode pulse-Doppler Radar is the first airborne Radar in NATO with three as opposed to two processing channels. The third channel is used in a jamming scenario for sidelobe nulling, interference blanking and jammer classification.

The Radar provides Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface features.

Main Air-to-Air fetaures

• Search Modes - Range While Search (RWS), Velocity Search (VS) and multiple target Track While Scan (TWS)
• Lock-Follow Modes, which are tailored for long range tracking and short range tracking for use in visual identification or gun attacks
• Air Combat Acquisition Modes allowing a choice of boresight, vertical scan HUD field of view or slaved acquisition

Main Air-to-Surface features

• Search Modes - Ground Map, High Resolution Map, Ground Moving Target Identification and Sea Surface Search and Track While Scan
• Track Modes - Fixed Target Track and Moving Target Track
• Air-to-Surface Ranging
• Terrain Avoidance

 

To complement the Radar, a dual-mode Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) sensor is mounted on the port side of the fuselage, forward of the windscreen.

The PIRATE IR sensor provides the Avionics System with more information but in a frequency band complementary to that of the Radar. Passive Air-to-Air target detection and tracking performance in the IRST mode provides totally covert-tracking capabilities. PIRATE also fully supports Air-to-Surface operations in the Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) mode, with ground and target imagery as required during missions where passive operations are also needed.

(MIDS) The MIDS is a high capacity digital information distribution system allowing the secure and jam-resistant exchange of real-time data between a wide variety of users, including all the components of a tactical air force, and where appropriate, land and naval forces. The system will present a comprehensive tactical environment on the MHDDs, relieving the pilot of the need to assemble the necessary information from a large number of independent sources. It also ensures the pilot is aware of threat and friendly aircraft which are beyond the areas covered by Radar and Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST).

Autonomous operations for Eurofighter Typhoon will be greatly enhanced by the addition of on-board target detection, recognition and identification, using the latest EO sensor technology. This is complemented by on-board laser tracking supporting target designation for self or third party operations. Future generations of targeting and tracking sensors will be readily integrated into Eurofighter Typhoon through the evolving avionics and weapon system architecture. As with the IRST/FLIR, multi-spectral operations will be key to future operational capability.

The DASS monitors and responds to the outside world. It is internally housed and provides the pilot with an all-round prioritised assessment of Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface threats with fully automatic response to single or multiple threats; manual override is available.  The DASS includes:

• Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) & Electronic Surveillance Measures (ESM)
• Front and rear Missile Approach Warners (MAW)
• Towed decoys (supersonically capable)
• Chaff and flare dispensers
• Laser Warning Receivers (LWR)

Space and computing power expansions will house continuous evolution for future threats, enhance Eurofighter Typhoon's survivability and greatly increase overall mission effectiveness. The aircraft’s design complements the DASS by minimising Eurofighter Typhoon’s Radar and Infra-Red signature.

HOTAS controls allow the pilot to carry out complex tasks with relative ease during intense situations. There are some twenty-four finger tip functions related to:

•  Sensor and weapon controls
•  DASS management
•  Aircraft handling
•  Communications;
•  Target manipulation
•  X;/Y Cursor Control.

DVI allows the pilot to activate non-safety critical moding and data entry functions as an alternative to using manual methods. Options include:

• Manual data entry
• Multi-Function Head Down Display (MHDD)
• Radio and navigation aids selection
• Target selection
• Target allocation to formation members.

DVI commands are confirmed by visual; and/or aural feedback. This unique VTAS capability drastically reduces the pilot’s workload enabling; him; to focus on the mission and systems operation. In an air battle scenario this system even allows the lead pilot to assign weapons to targets for both himself and his wingman with three simple voice commands.

Normal access and exit from the cockpit may be via either an external or integral ladder. The latter, designed for autonomous operations, is a telescopic arrangement stowed in the port side of the fuselage below the cockpit entry and exit is through a combination of the ladder, footrests and handholds. Emergency escape is by the Martin Baker Mk.16A ejection seat the canopy is jettisoned by two rocket motors.

Derived from the US Navy Mk.14 seat, the Mk.16A is some 30% lighter this is achieved by combining the twin ejection gun outer cylinder tubes as both the propulsion system and the seat’s primary structure. The seat offers high comfort levels, and is integrated with an On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS), chemical defence, and communication systems.

The narrow head box contributes to Eurofighter Typhoon’s excellent rear vision. The simplified combined harness allows unassisted strap-in, and the passive leg restraint system avoids the need for the pilot to wear restraining garters. A second generation electronic sequencer is incorporated. Reliability and maintainability are key elements of the design, with full access to in-cockpit components.

Upper Aerodynamic Surface (deployed) Pitot (deployed) Left-Hand Seat-Pan Trombone Tubes Auxiliary Oxygen Bottle Oxygen Control Handle Left-Hand Lower Aerodynamic Surface (deployed) Oxygen Regulator Seat Firing Handle Go-Forward Control Lever Right-Hand Thermal Battery

To ensure that the pilot is physiologically compatible with Eurofighter Typhoon’s agile capability, the life support system provides pressure breathing and ‘g’-protection to the extent that ‘pilot-straining’ is not necessary under high ‘g’-force. All aircrew equipment is designed as an integral part of the weapon system.

The AEA is unique to Eurofighter Typhoon and includes:

Full-Cover Anti-‘G’ Trousers (FCAGTs) and Chest Counter-Pressure Garment (CCPG)

Liquid conditioning garment

Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) protection

A lightweight Head Equipment Assembly (HEA) incorporating the HMSS, Night Vision Enhancement (NVE), and optical protection.

A high level of systems integration and automation has been adopted to allow safe and efficient single-seat operation in the swing-role environment.

Unprecedented attention has been given to Man-Machine Interfaces (MMI), and at all stages of the design of the Eurofighter Typhoon cockpit, the needs of the single seat pilot have been paramount. High workload situations have been analysed to establish priorities and to automate tasks. Advanced digital technology not only enhances operability and survivability, but also simplifies aircraft maintenance. The priorities of head-in and head-out operations were established, the design of the displays and moding are such that only necessary information is presented to the pilot, are combined with excellent all-round vision, to highlight the major principles of Eurofighter Typhoon’s high technology cockpit design.

The displays and controls interface with their respective systems via a Cockpit Interface Unit (CIU), Computer Symbol Generators (CSG), and databuses. For systems integrity, some controls are hardwired to individual systems.

The number of conventional panel mounted controls and indicators has been reduced to a minimum.

The main interaction between the pilot and the aircraft systems is via the Manual Data Entry (MDE) facility, the Head-Up Display (HUD), Multi-Function Head Down Displays (MHDDs), the Voice Throttle And Stick controls (VTAS), and by Direct Voice Input (DVI).

The pilot has seven display surfaces available to him: the HUD, three MHDDs, a Helmet Mounted Symbology System (HMSS), a Dedicated Warning Panel (DWP), and a Multiple Information Distribution System (MIDS) display.

Cockpit lighting is compatible with night vision enhancement, and daytime brightness of the displays is automatically adjusted.

The advanced cockpit design and layout is based on an extensive series of formal assessments by operational pilots from the customers’ air forces, carried out in a rapid prototype facility.

The three full colour Multi-Function Head Down Displays (MHDDs) present a wide range of information including:

• The overall tactical situation
• Attack formats
• Map displays and air traffic procedures
• System status and check lists

All available formats can be shown on any of the three MHDDs, with detailed information selected through the multi-function soft-keys arranged around each MHDD, by X/Y cursor control, or by DVI.

The HMSS provides flight reference data, an energy cue, and weapon aiming through the pilot’s visor this will allow target acquisition and engagement at large off-boresight angles. The helmet also incorporates night vision aids using light intensification and provision for Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) imagery.

Helmet Features Outer Helmet Inner Helmet Optics Blast/Display Visor Oxygen mask Night Vision Enhancement Camera Head Tracking System LED Position