UK MoD awards Typhoon funding

BAE, MBDA and Raytheon will investigate the feasibility of a common weapon launcher

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded £1.7 million of funding to research a common weapon launcher for Typhoon that could be capable of carrying multiple weapons and weapon types on one aircraft attachment point.

The project will bring together expertise from BAE Systems as the weapons integration lead for Typhoon and the weapons manufacturers MBDA and Raytheon UK. 

The common weapon launcher could potentially carry weapons such as the Dual Mode Brimstone 2 Missile and the Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb.

Andy Eddleston, Typhoon product development and future capability director at BAE Systems, said: "Developing a common weapon launcher solution could significantly enhance Typhoon's ability to deliver increased weapons persistence and effects.

"Each launcher could be capable of carrying up to three weapons, providing a great deal of flexibility and persistence for the operator."

Recent enhancements to the Typhoon include the integration of the Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb and contracts to integrate the Captor E-Scan radar and the Dual Mode Brimstone Missile.