Royal Air Force to Test New ECRS Mk2 Radar for Eurofighter Typhoon, Boosting UK's Air Defense Capabilities.

The first Eurofighter Typhoon equipped with the advanced European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 is now ready for flight tests, according to an announcement from the British government dated September 19, 2024. This radar, jointly developed by BAE Systems in the UK and Leonardo in Italy, is a key component in the modernization program of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The flight tests for this equipment are scheduled to begin soon.

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BAE Systems/Leonardo European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 Radar for Eurofighter Typhoon (Picture source: BAE Systems)

Maria Eagle, British Minister of Defence Procurement, shared this news with the House of Commons, highlighting the successful ground test phases that took place on a Typhoon prototype. The ECRS Mk2 radar, an evolution of the Captor-E, shows notable improvements over the previous version, the ECRS Mk1, which is intended for the German and Spanish air forces.

This latest-generation radar, the ECRS Mk2, successfully underwent a critical design review in June 2024 and was tested in an anechoic chamber to ensure its compatibility with the aircraft's systems. These advancements are expected to significantly enhance the surveillance capabilities, aerial target tracking, and electronic warfare capabilities of the Eurofighter, representing a crucial improvement for the control of British airspace.

The test aircraft ZK355/BS116 will be the first to integrate this new radar system in flight, setting the stage for further tests on the RAF's Tranche 3 Eurofighter program. Concurrently, older Tranche 1 aircraft will be gradually phased out of service starting in 2025.

The Ministry of Defence has invested £2.35 billion in this modernization project, which aims not only to improve existing capabilities but also to integrate advanced functions such as wideband electronic attack and enhanced jamming capabilities. These innovations will allow RAF pilots to engage targets at long distances while remaining protected against enemy air defenses.

The ECRS Mk2 is designed to provide pilots with improved situational awareness and unprecedented tactical superiority by detecting and prioritizing threats while automatically coordinating countermeasures, including decoys like the Brite Cloud. This radar is therefore a key element in the UK's defense strategy, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a technological lead in the field of air defense.

With the new radar, the Typhoon will benefit from a unique capability to suppress enemy air defenses (SEAD), allowing it to operate in contested and congested electromagnetic environments. Additionally, the radar will significantly enhance the aircraft's Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface capabilities, thus broadening its operational spectrum.

The ECRS Mk2 also serves as a technological bridge to the Tempest project. The technologies and skills developed for the ECRS Mk2 radar are being transferred to the ongoing development work of Leonardo and BAE Systems as members of Team Tempest. This will reduce the costs and development time of the Tempest while enhancing the overall performance of the system.

Finally, led by the UK but open to international partners, the ECRS Mk2 also supports the Typhoon export campaigns, thus enhancing future sales and exports of this combat aircraft. The radar can be retrofitted onto the extensive existing Typhoon fleet, increasing their competitiveness on the international market.