Germany to equip Quadriga jets with Eurofighter EK suite

The Luftwaffe has clarified that, in addition to the 20 newbuild Tranche 5 jets, it is to upgrade 15 of its soon-to-be-delivered Tranche 4 Project Quadriga jets to the Eurofighter EK (pictured) standard. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Germany is to equip a portion of its Project Quadriga jets with an emitter locator system (ELS) and anti-radiation missile as part of the Luftwaffe's wider Eurofighter Elektronischer Kampf (EK) electronic attack plans.

A spokesperson for the Luftwaffe told Janes on 28 October that the previously announced plan to modernise 15 existing Eurofighter jets to the Eurofighter EK standard alongside 20 recently contracted newbuild Tranche 5 aircraft will be achieved by modernising some of the 38 Tranche 4 Quadriga aircraft now being assembled.

“The current plan is to contractually equip 15 Eurofighters from Quadriga and the newly ordered 20 Eurofighters (Tranche 5) with Arexis,” the spokesperson said, firming up the service's plans, which had previously referred only to upgrading “existing jets” and newbuild Tranche 5s to the Eurofighter EK role.

For the Step 1 Eurofighter EK upgrade now under contract, the 15 Tranche 4 and 20 Tranche 5 aircraft will be equipped with the Saab Arexis ELS and Northrop Grumman AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) for the suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD)/destruction of enemy air defences (DEAD) role. The Luftwaffe has previously told Janes that the Step 2 process to follow adds an Escort Jammer Pod for increased jamming power in the SEAD/DEAD role, as well as potentially manned-unmanned teaming and other high-end capabilities.

The Eurofighter EK will enable the Luftwaffe to gradually transfer the capabilities of the Panavia Tornado Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance (ECR). As previously noted to Janes