The government has released £204.6m of funding towards the production and integration of an advanced new radar for the latest Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
The radar, known as ECRS Mk2, is set to “transform Typhoon’s control of the air,” with the aircraft able to simultaneously detect, identify and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground.
BAE Systems in Lancashire will be leading on the work alongside Leonardo UK in Edinburgh and Luton. The radars will be integrated by engineers at BAE’s sites in Samlesbury and Warton, Lancashire – sustaining more than 300 jobs across the two BAE sites sites and 400 at Leonard, plus more than 1,300 jobs across the UK supply chain.
“This commitment to the continued evolution of Typhoon’s capability ensures the RAF maintains its operational advantage. It also sustains the UK’s sovereign combat skills enabling Typhoon to secure our skies into the future,” said Richard Hamilton, Managing Director – Europe & International at BAE Systems’ Air sector.
READ MORE – BAE Systems air sector secured £11bn contracts in last financial year
The latest funding for the programme follows a programme of flight testing and extensive ground-based testing of an ECRS Mk2 prototype radar which concluded at BAE Systems’ site in Warton, Lancashire in February.
“With modern conflict demonstrating the central 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 electronic warfare capabilities through a multi-functional array, with development running several years ahead of other international efforts,” added Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK, Leonardo.
The radars are due to become available from 2028.
The value of export sales for Typhoon is more than double the UK’s investment of £12bn since the start of the programme.
