UK MOD Awards £453.5M ECRS Mk2 Radar Production Contract for RAF Typhoons
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £453.5 million contract to BAE Systems for full production of the European Common Radar System Mk2, or ECRS Mk2, advanced radar for Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, marking a key milestone in the platform’s modernization effort.
Contract Details and Scope
Under the deal announced on January 22, the contract funds full-rate production of 38 ECRS Mk2 radars plus modification of existing test units, which are to be integrated on the RAF’s Tranche 3 Typhoon aircraft. Deliveries are due to begin in the late 2020s with operational entry before the end of the decade.
BAE Systems leads production and integration while Leonardo UK manufactures the radar systems at facilities in Edinburgh and Luton. Parker Meggitt is providing key radar enclosure components. Integration of the radar into aircraft avionics will take place at BAE Systems’ Lancashire site.
Capability Enhancements
The ECRS Mk2 is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that combines traditional search and track functions with electronic warfare and attack capabilities. It enables Typhoon crews to detect, identify, and track multiple air and ground targets in contested environments while offering improved electronic surveillance and electronic attack capacity over older mechanically scanned radars.
This multi-role radar aims to boost situational awareness, air dominance, and mission effectiveness in complex threat environments. It represents a significant upgrade to the aircraft’s avionics suite and supports the RAF’s capability needs through the 2030s.
Industrial and Economic Impact
The contract is expected to sustain a broad supply chain across the UK defence industry. Approximately 1,300 skilled jobs directly and indirectly tied to radar production and integration are supported, with hundreds employed at Leonardo and BAE Systems sites in Scotland, Luton, and Lancashire.
Officials from the UK Ministry of Defence and industry partners highlighted the contract’s role in maintaining sovereign manufacturing capability for advanced combat systems as part of broader efforts to strengthen national defence industrial base and export potential.
Strategic Context
The radar award is part of a larger ongoing Typhoon modernization program that includes additional avionics, sensors, and weapons upgrades funded through a UK government investment framework stretching back to 2022. ECRS Mk2 development and airworthiness testing preceded this production contract, with initial prototype radar flights conducted in 2024.
The Typhoon fleet remains central to UK air defence strategy, and this radar production contract is designed to extend its relevance against peer-level threats and evolving electronic warfare challenges.
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