Typhoon cannon

[The Phantom]

A question for the experts on here:
I know many years ago only so many of the first Tranche Typhoon's were to have guns installed; and then I believe this was changed in the mid-2000s - albeit the gun port is blanked over with a metal plate.

So are all Typhoons now carrying a cannon?
And are they active for QRA? I ask because i believed from things said years ago that they were; but on searching through pictures of Typhoon's on QRA service, the gun port is still blanked over?!

[seven]

I believe all our Typhoons have guns installed now. However the gun put will be covered until fired.

7

[toom317]

Just been looking at some Typhoon pics, where is the cannon on the Typhoon?

[Thunder]

Right wing root. The oval disc with the 8 screws holding it in place is what shatters when the first round passes through.

http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Ty ... _12462.jpg

[nickowen]

So no Blue Note then? Spoilsports.

[IanM]

I believe the story is that the RAF wanted the gun left off as a cost saving measure. However, in order to maintain the Typhoon’s weight and balance they would have had to have replaced it with something that was the same weight, size and shape as the original gun! Common sense prevailed and the gun was retained.

Ian

[The Phantom]

Right wing root. The oval disc with the 8 screws holding it in place is what shatters when the first round passes through.

http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Ty ... _12462.jpg

Interesting about the disc shatters with the first round - always imagined it was a solid steel plate!

[The Phantom]

So leading on from the above info - that they all have guns and the covering plate shatters - do they ever practice with the guns at the range? Or would it be all simulator training these days?
Never seen any photos or video of live firing; whereas it was commonplace in the days of Phantoms, Jags, etc.

[Ghastly Whisper]

With all the other weapon options available to Typhoon having to use the gun probably means the pilot is in a very desperate situation. All the years its been deployed to various parts of the world, not once have I ever heard of the gun being used. Has it been used?

[Agent K]

With all the other weapon options available to Typhoon having to use the gun probably means the pilot is in a very desperate situation. All the years its been deployed to various parts of the world, not once have I ever heard of the gun being used. Has it been used?

I think it's more a case of what is the suitable weapon for the operation than ever being in a desperate situation. For example, the Tornado used it's cannon in Afghanistan in the low level CAS role, a line of cannon fire being a suitable deterrent to stop the enemy from crossing a line or forcing them back, where bombs could not be used because friendly forces were too close. Typhoon operations (in what I have seen) are more medium level with precision munitions and specific targets and there are no troops on the ground for a lower level CAS and thus to be needed. I seem to recall also that the decision to include the cannon eventually was helped by the Afghanistan experience where it was accepted that it was a very useful weapon in the CAS role.

[toom317]

Thanks for the replies. A total bonehead question, but it was one of those things you never really think about.

[Sparts99]

Thanks for the replies. A total bonehead question, but it was one of those things you never really think about.

I don't think it was a bonehad question, I found this quite interesting, a lot of info in a short thread.

[np1991]

With all the other weapon options available to Typhoon having to use the gun probably means the pilot is in a very desperate situation. All the years its been deployed to various parts of the world, not once have I ever heard of the gun being used. Has it been used?

Yes, Typhoon has fired the gun during Op Shader sorties. Usually before the Squadron's deploy there's a phase where they go live with the gun. The Lossie based units have been live with the gun on Tain Range.

[Sky Pirate]

But it's not the most dependable set up..lots of jam ups.

[POL]

From memory, the F-15 and F-16 guns point slightly upwards (useful in dogfights...)

Does the Typhoon have the same setup, or is it level or pointing downwards slightly for better A-G gunnery, a-la Tornado GRx?

[toom317]

Can't say about the Typhoon, but I'm sure the Tornado GR and F versions had the guns set differently, but the F did practise strafing for Bosnia, or some other theatre, but don't know if they ever used it in anger. They did do a strafing orientated display for the airshow at Leuchars on at least one occasion

[Thunderbolt II]

Can't say about the Typhoon, but I'm sure the Tornado GR and F versions had the guns set differently, but the F did practise strafing for Bosnia, or some other theatre, but don't know if they ever used it in anger. They did do a strafing orientated display for the airshow at Leuchars on at least one occasion

Wasn't the strafing practice on the F3 related to Falklands duties?- as would be the only air to ground option for the flight based out there in an emergency? I may have imagined that, but it was what I understood at the time.

[Bushpilot]

I bet it's a lot more useful to have a cannon than a AAM to fire a warning shot!

[toom317]

That sounds about right Thunderbolt.

[filmman]

The advantage of cannon is that the opposition never definitely knows that you have run out of rounds in a dog fight. Missiles, depending on type, are fired far further out and at all aspects: absence of use/carriage is more obvious. One Israeli ace remarked their early home made missiles never worked so they had to use cannon even when carrying missiles. Out of curiosity has anyone seen a Typhoon canon being loaded, or shells on flight lines, or visual tags saying guns loaded?
I know that used car salesman make extravagant claims, but the Russians claimed that their latest fighters computerised gun systems only needed to fire 3 rounds to shoot a fighter down.
Filmman