Europe’s multi-role fighter jet Eurofighter Typhoon offers versatility, advanced systems

LONDON

The multi-role Eurofighter Typhoon jet offers highly versatile uses, a modular system structure, and full compliance with NATO standards, while its state-of-the-art technologies come to the fore once again, as Türkiye gears toward buying some 40 units of the aircraft.

Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler signed a comprehensive deal on Wednesday with British Defense Secretary John Healey to allow Türkiye to operate Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

“We plan to acquire some 40 units of the aircraft — there are various options and we’re currently working on them,” said Guler during the signing ceremony held in Istanbul on the sidelines of this week’s International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025).

The Eurofighter Typhoon was produced by a consortium of companies from the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. It is among the most sophisticated multi-role fighter jets worldwide with high performance in air superiority and ground attack missions.

The twin-engine fighter jet was designed to be used for various roles, including air-to-air and air-to-surface combat. Its multi-role capabilities allow for aerial recon, advanced air control, electronic warfare, and bombardment missions, as well as suppressing enemy air defenses and offering close air support.

The aircraft is highly preferred by the air forces of the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, thanks to its wide range of operational capabilities.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is the result of a collaboration between Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo — leading aerospace and defense firms in Europe.

In terms of its physical specifications, it has a fixed, delta wing structure, also known as a canard delta wing. The aircraft features a single-seat cockpit, though some versions can accommodate two people.

The aircraft is 15.96 meters (around 52 feet and 5 inches) long, 10.95 m (35 ft and 11 in) wide, and weighs 11 tons when empty. It can take off with a maximum load of 23.5 tons.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is equipped with twin Eurojet EJ200 turbofan engines, allowing for a speed of 2,495 kilometers (1,550 miles) per hour. The multi-role fighter jet can reach an altitude of 16,765 m (over 55,000 ft) and has a range of 2,900 km (around 1,802 mi) before requiring a refuel.

The aircraft is equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, also called an ASEA radar, but newer iterations of the craft come with the Captor-E radar onboard.

The fighter jet also includes various NATO-compliant systems for data connectivity, including infrared search and tracking systems, advanced electronic warfare and countermeasure systems, and an HMD targeting system.

Its highly advanced weapon systems include a 27-millimeter Mauser BK-27 cannon and some 13 weapon stations under the wings and fuselage. It can be equipped with air-to-air missile systems like the AIM-120 Amraam, Meteor, IRIS-T, and Asraam, as well as with air-to-ground systems, such as laser-guided Paveway bombs, Storm Shadow, Brimstone, and JDAM systems.

The Typhoon has a stealthy, robust airframe to evade radar detections, and it combines highly sophisticated sensors and weapon systems to deliver optimal combat capabilities. The aircraft consistently outperforms its competitors in performance evaluations.

Stealth capabilities are of utmost importance in the Eurofighter Typhoon’s performance, as only 15% of its surface is made of metal, rendering it mostly undetectable during covert operations.

The EJ200 engine, on the other hand, offers high strength and high temperature capabilities, as one of the most reliable jet engines on the market.