The UK government has greenlit a significant investment aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet. A budget allocation of £204.6 million ($277.5 million) has been approved for the production and integration of the ECRS Mk2 radar. This announcement comes after successful flight trials conducted earlier this year.
The radar is being developed by a collaboration between the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support Typhoon delivery team, alongside Leonardo and BAE Systems. Leonardo will handle the production of the radar at facilities in Edinburgh and Luton, while BAE Systems is tasked with its integration into the Typhoon aircraft in Lancashire. The production phase is projected to continue until 2028.
This investment is expected to sustain approximately 1,300 highly skilled jobs across the UK over the next decade, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy. Lyndon Hoyle, Head of the Typhoon Delivery Team, emphasized that the UK’s commitment to long-lead packages reflects growing confidence in the progress made by the UK industry in developing this cutting-edge radar system. He noted the urgency to integrate the initial production radars through the four-nation Eurofighter program to enhance operational capabilities for the warfighter.
The ECRS Mk2 radar will replace the existing Captor E-Scan radar, or ECRS Mk1, providing the Typhoon with advanced electronic warfare and electronic attack capabilities essential in modern combat scenarios. According to Leonardo, the radar features a multi-functional array capable of reprogrammable electronic warfare functions, including a wideband electronic attack designed to detect and disrupt adversary radar systems.
This new capability is crucial for ensuring that non-stealth aircraft, like the Typhoon, can effectively penetrate contested airspace with a higher chance of remaining undetected. The ECRS Mk2 radar will boast extended range and enhanced passive detection capabilities, allowing it to identify enemy radar systems before they can respond.
Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK at Leonardo, highlighted the significance of this development. He pointed out that the UK’s combat air industry is the first in Europe to offer a radar system with integrated wideband Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) electronic warfare capabilities. He also mentioned that the development timeline is ahead of other international initiatives, with expectations for the radar to be operational with the RAF before the decade concludes.
