The UK has approved funding for a new radar on the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.
An investment of 204.6 million pounds ($277.5 million) will go into the production and integration of the ECRS Mk2 radar following the conclusion of flight trials earlier this year.
The radar will be delivered by the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support Typhoon delivery team, Leonardo, and BAE Systems.
Leonardo is manufacturing the radar in Edinburgh and Luton, and BAE Systems will integrate it into the aircraft in Lancashire.
Production is expected to last until 2028.
The project will sustain an estimated 1,300 highly skilled jobs across the UK over the next decade, boosting the local economy.
“The UK’s commitment to these long-lead packages in support of series production reflects the growing confidence in the progress being made by UK Industry in developing this state-of-the-art radar and growing maturity of the system design,” Head of Typhoon Delivery Team Lyndon Hoyle said.
“With initial production radars due to become available from 2028, the race is now on to get them integrated as soon as possible through the 4-nation Eurofighter program and deliver the battle-winning capability into the hands of the war fighter.”
ECRS Mk2 radar
The ECRS, or European Common Radar System, Mk2 will replace the Typhoon’s Captor E-Scan radar, or ECRS Mk1.
The active electronically scanned array radar is designed to equip the multirole jet with electronic warfare and electronic attack capability, making it relevant in the era of stealth.
According to Leonardo, the radar’s multi-functional array provides the “aircraft reprogrammable electronic warfare capability, including wideband electronic attack,” to detect and disrupt adversary radar.
The ability to neutralize enemy radar will provide the non-stealth aircraft with a greater likelihood of penetrating contested airspace without detection.
Moreover, the radar’s more extended range and greater passive detection capability will allow it to detect rival radars before being detected while remaining beyond the range of enemy air defenses.
“With modern conflict demonstrating the importance of electronic warfare to combat operations, we are proud that the UK’s onshore combat air industry is the first in Europe to offer a radar with embedded wideband Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) electronic warfare capabilities through a multi-functional array,” Managing Director Electronics UK at Leonardo, Mark Hamilton, said.
“Development is running several years ahead of other international efforts, and we expect to have the radar in service with the UK RAF before the end of the decade.”
