The first Tranche 3 Typhoon, BS116, has been transferred from final assembly to the paint shop facility where it spent two weeks getting a makeover - check out the video and learn more about the painting process.

The Tranche 3 jet will progress to the hush house, our sound-proofed engine testing facility, for a series of engine ground runs in the next few weeks.  First test flights are expected to take place in September/October 2013.

Tranche 3 capability includes over 350 modified parts designed, engineered and assembled ready to incorporate the most advanced capability enhancements.

Enhancements include provision for conformal fuel tanks and extra electrical power and cooling to cater for an E-Scan radar which will enhance performance, reliability and availability whilst delivering lower support costs for Typhoon customers.  Extra computing power and high speed data network systems will give the aircraft capacity for even more capability in the future.

Under the Tranche 3A contract signed in 2009, a total of 112 aircraft have been ordered for the four European partner nations of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, with 40 aircraft bound for the Royal Air Force.

Deliveries of Tranche 3 Typhoons are expected to start later this year.