The Quest for Relevant Air Power

POST–COLD WAR CHALLENGES │ 57
of PGMs because they allow even relatively small aircraft to
achieve very good weapons-delivery accuracy. 276
This thrust towards multirole aircraft is also reflected in the
latest European combat aircraft programmes. The French Rafale
and the Swedish Gripen were designed from the outset as true
multirole aircraft. The Eurofighter Typhoon was originally conceived
as an air superiority fighter with only secondary groundattack
capability. A reason for this lay in the fact that three out of
the four partner nations had already been operating the very capable
Tornado in the attack role. However, the practical experiences
of the post–Cold War era as well as considerations for potential
export customers have made the development of a truly
multirole fighter-bomber necessary. 277 Alongside these European
programmes, the F-35 JSF is likely to become the future backbone
of a number of European NATO air forces. 278
Courtesy FAF, Sirpa Air
Rafale flying over Afghanistan armed with armement air-sol modulaire
(AASM), or modular air-to-surface armament, for precision air strikes