BAE Systems says its work to bring APKWS technology to Royal Air Force Typhoons in the Middle East is a big step for the jet’s weapons power. The company says this is only one piece of a wider upgrade path, because Typhoon keeps changing as military needs change. BAE also says fast jets do not leave the factory finished forever. They enter service with a first set of abilities and then grow over time as new tools and weapons are added.
That upgrade story now includes APKWS, a low-cost precision weapon made to help Typhoon deal with uncrewed air systems. BAE said it tested the weapon in the UK and then moved quickly from idea to live firing. The company said it went from concept to an initial firing trial in six months, and after that it took less than two months to bring the weapon onto RAF Typhoons flying over the Middle East.
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How Typhoon keeps changing?
BAE Systems says Typhoon’s growth has come from work on sensors, mission systems and weapons. The jet is no longer just an air-to-air fighter. It is now treated as a full multi-role aircraft. BAE says its weapon set includes Meteor, Storm Shadow and Brimstone, which gives the aircraft more reach and more kinds of attack jobs. The company also says current threats are forcing Typhoon to move faster so it can stay useful against advanced surface-to-air missiles and electronic warfare systems.
Another big part of the change is radar. BAE says the European Common Radar System is already part of the aircraft’s growth path, and the next version, ECRS Mk2, is being built by the UK. The company says that newer radar will bring advanced electronic attack ability and help Typhoon stay effective against future threats. BAE also says its engineers have built a new mission computer that can handle huge amounts of data and process it 200 times faster.
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A Jet that keeps getting bigger in skill
Typhoon is still a major aircraft for Europe and the Middle East. The Eurofighter programme site now says the jet is in service with 10 countries, including Türkiye. BAE also says the programme keeps moving because its industry partners, Airbus and Leonardo, continue to invest alongside BAE Systems. The wider programme is built by the four partner nations, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
