I think the sale of tranche 1 typhoons is an excellent idea. I have read though that tranche 2 typhoons are more likely to be sold in a simiar fashion to the saudi sale.

Selling off old tranche 1 aircraft makes lots more sense though. Oman would be happy since they would be sold at a very cheap price, especially considering that scrappage of tranche 1 airframes when later tranche orders have been delivered is under consideration.

As for partner nations being annoyed, I don't feel there will be an issue, since sale of tranche 1 aircraft to Oman would increase the chances of the RAF being able to make tranche 3b orders. Now I am not sure whether the splitting of tranche 3 means that there are no penalties for dropping out of tranche 3b. If so, then eurofighter would be getting sales that would otherwise be very unlikely from any partner nation (even Germany are now looking hard into whether they can afford the whole 180 purchase).

One shame is that the tranche 1 typhoons have had a good deal of money spent on getting an improved strike capability. It is unlikely that these will see use in afghanistan because priority is given to building up a full air defence force at present. It would be a shame for all of the hard work to go to waste but as a jaguar replacement for the Omanis, this is an excellent solution. I wonder how much of the UOR upgrades could be retained and then maintained in Omani service. I'm referring in particular to the lightening pod integration and Enhanced Paveway 2 bombs. It would make sense to sell EPW2s given that we now have PW4s?

My question is what will happen to the remainder of the tranche 1 Typhoons. If i'm right, there are 56 at present minus 24 sold would leave 32. There would be no need to retain any single seaters so I wonder how many of the tranche 1 planes are dual seaters. Which brings me onto another question: are tranche 2 and 3 planes all single seaters?

I thought I was reading a current thread, 4 years to buy 24 aircraft, madness.

Yeah I wondered that, I worked on the earlier models years ago and interchaingability (ICY) was always a big thing.

That said lots of the Avionic equipment had T1 and T2 versions of spares because they needed spares on shelves before T2 equipment was ready but they all fitted inside the same or smaller boxes.

So eventually once you have the same equipment and software, it can be upgraded.

Not sure where that came from, can you imagine changing jigs and then having to undergo all new fatigue testing, lightening strike etc etc.