Retained Typhoon Plans?

[kstater94]

Hi everyone,

With only ZK437 left to deliver, I was curious if anyone knew what the plans are for the Typhoons that have been retained for test purposes. Not including ZJ938 (which I doubt will ever go to a squadron) I count 4 that have been noted flying regularly (ZK303, ZK350, ZK355, and ZK356) and one (ZK370) that seems to have been kept but not flown much (if at all) since it's first flight....

Thoughts?

Cheers
John

[TombsRIP]

ZK350 (BS111) has not flown for a few years now...another which was used for ground trials. Also ZJ699/IPA1 wfu/ground trials only? Plus ZJ700/IPA5 another dev jet which flies occasionally (last flown July 19?)
Cheers

[kstater94]

Thank you sir!

[TARGET]

Ironically ZK350 was on flightline this morning
when I called.Had intake guards fitted so unlikely it flew.Dont know its future.

[kstater94]

How odd....

Perhaps they are getting their odds and ends sorted so they can deliver the missing jets in order to make room for Tempest

Cheers
John

[TombsRIP]

Tempest is still a paper (electronic) aircraft (concept)..a very long way to go on that yet before any metal is cut...the only assembly on that project so far involves the full scale model (mockup).

[Doughnut]

What other Typhoons (Saudi, UAE, Qatar ?) are still stored at Warton. Indeed how many more are being built ?
Expect BAE will need retain the use of these jets for the foreseeable future as service upgrades are developed.
Are Saudi jets maintained in Saudi or will these start to return for service / upgrade ?

[TombsRIP]

There are no 'export' typhoons std at Warton. See previous posts re Qatari typhoon (24 aircraft)/hawk order (9 aircraft). There could be an Omani follow on order after the Qataris but only speculation at this stage. There is no order from the UAE yet, certainly nothing made public and again 3-4 years away at very least before any final assembly would take place.
No saudi typhoons are expected to be upgraded in UK. Also the eagerly anticipated (by BAES) 48 typhoon follow on order from the saudis is obviously under greater scrutiny due to the appalling situation in Yemen and the impact the use of saudi typhoons, with associated weapons, have (allegedly) had on this conflict. Then there are the political repercussions after the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi in the saudi consulate in Istanbul which may just have some bearing on future military aircraft sales (granting of new export licences etc) to ksa. Time will tell. I would expect any upgrades of already delivered jets would be done discretely 'in country' by a BAES contractors working party presumably if allowed by the Govt.