Born out of a partnership with Germany and Spain the Typhoon will provide the RAF with a multi-role combat aircraft with the ability of air-superiority fighter but also a potent precision ground attack platform. This highly capable and extremly agile aircraft is powered by two Eurojet EJ200 turbofans which can reach speeds up to of Mach 2 and at 65,000ft. The airframe is largely made of carbon fibre and light alloys to save weight. It's also equipped with the advanced ECR90 radar, which can track multiple targets.

Deliveries to the RAF started in 2003, when 17(R) Squadron, the Typhoon OEU (Operational Evaluation Uniit) formed at BAE Systems Warton, alongside the factory where the aircraft are assembled, while detailed development and testing of the airframe was carried out. Activation of 17(R)  Squadron OEU occured on the 1st July 2005 at RAF Coningsby followed by 29(R)  Squadron the types OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) later in that year.

The Typhoon will replace the Tornado F3 in the fighter role and has already replaced the Jaguar in the ground attack role. If the total purchace reaches the planned 232 aircraft the Typhoon will equip seven front-line squadrons as well as the Operartional Conversion Unit (OCU) and the Operational Evaluation Unit (OEU)

The first operational unit to be equipped with the aircraft was 3 Squadron which formed at RAF Cottesmore on the 31st March 2006 and moved to it's new base RAF Coningsby the following day. The second operational squadron was 11 Squadron which recieved it's first aircraft on the 9th October 2006. The next unit to be equipped will be 6 Squadron towards the end of 2008, the suadron will initially form at RAF Coningsby before moving to RAF Leuchars in Scotland.

Single seat Block 5 "Tranche 2" aircraft built or upgraded from existing F2's are known as Typhoon FGR4's. The new mark represents the increased capabilities of the Block 5 aircraft, fighter/ground attack and reconnaissance.

The Typhoon FGR4 has achieved the required standard for multi-role operations from June 2008 during the Green Flag exercise in the USA during the deployment of the first squadron flying the Typhoon FGR 4; 11 Sqaudron.

Being the first true mulit-role fighter since the Phantom within the RAF, the Typhoon, with its possibility to fight in and out of the target zones, allows the RAF to deliver combat airpower wherever and whenever it is required.