Latest In Defence – A400M, P-8 Poseidon and Eurofighter Typhoon at Farnborough

Latest In Defence reports from Farnborough International Airshow, where the F-35 was due to make its international debut but failed to make a showing. We have an update on the UK’s A400M programme; the Boeing P-8 Poseidon makes its debut; and there are new developments for the Eurofighter Typhoon programme.

The Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, also known as Atlas, is designed for tactical and logistics missions and can also carry out air-to-air refuelling. It offers a specially-designed cargo hold which can carry heavy and bulky equipment for military and humanitarian aid missions. Kevin Porter, the new head of business for Airbus Defence and Space, brings us the latest developments in the programme.

Boeing‘s P-8 Poseidon made its debut at this year’s event. A naval aircraft, its main uses are anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. It is derived from the Boeing next-generation 737-800 jumbo jet, which gives it an impressive range to carry out length surveillance missions. It was designed for the US Navy, which plans to buy a total of 117, and its first international customer is the Indian Navy.

Radar investment for Eurofighter Typhoon

This isn’t the first appearance at Farnborough for the Eurofighter Typhoon, but the programme is set to benefit from a portion of the £1.1bn boost in defence spending recently announced by David Cameron. It will be fitted with the CAPTOR-E radar designed by the international Euroradar consortium. The idea is this next=generation Doppler radar will make Typhoon more attractive to international customers. It is thought India chose the Dassault Rafale over Typhoon for its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft programme because of its superior radar.

Air shows are much like West End musicals – the show must go on even if the star doesn’t show up. Although it missed the matinee, the F-35 was planned to make Farnborough’s curtain call, but was still grounded at the end of the trade show. However, even the mock-up Lockheed Martin had on display proved popular with show-goers who queued to sit in the cockpit.