The Eurofighter Typhoon will undergo an upgrade to improve its aerodynamics. This solution, called the Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK), is designed to accelerate the integration of new weapons and improve flight performance.
"This improvement is driven by extensions to the fuselage strakes, the flaperons and the leading-edge root, resulting in a noticeable increase in maximum wing lift," an official statement by the Eurofighter announcing the signing of an agreement with NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency) to begin work on the development of AMK reads.
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A rendering of how the Eurofighter Typhoon is expected to change with this new aerodynamic kit was also included with the announcement.
The AMK, under development, will accelerate the deployment of new anti-radar, air-to-surface, and air-to-air missiles, along with upgraded long-range missile variants.
The illustration shows IRIS-T and Meteor air-to-air missiles, apparently Brimstone air-to-ground missiles on a multi-point pylon, a Taurus cruise missile, and precision-guided aerial bombs.
It should be noted that that the new air-to-air missiles could stem from the development of a new air combat weapon that is fully independent of U.S. components (ITAR-free). This development is being carried out by Germany's Diehl Defence.
The weapons for striking ground targets may refer to Stratus missiles (formerly known as FC/ASW) from MBDA. These are likely the supersonic Stratus RS (RJ10) and the subsonic Stratus LO (TP15) cruise missiles, which are to replace the Storm Shadow / SCALP. Although the Stratus RS was positioned as a high-speed anti-ship missile, plans were announced to create an anti-radar variant.
The timeline for the Eurofighter upgrade has not yet been announced. However, the work will be carried out by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, suggesting that all operators of the fighter jet are interested. The Eurofighter is expected to remain in service until the 2060s.
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