Leonardo has signed a contract to complete development of a new radar, ready for integration into the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon fleet, which will transform the aircraft’s air control and provide additional electronic warfare capabilities.

Contract, provided by BAE Systems to Leonardo, will see further technology development and integration work into the Common European Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radar by Leonardo and BAE Systems. BAE Systems led the overall design, development, manufacture and upgrade of the Typhoon aircraft for the UK, Leonardo led the aircraft’s primary detection and survivability systems, including the radar, defense assistance subsystems and infrared search and track system.

The contract forms part of a British government announcement made in July 2022, to invested £2.35 billion to continue technological advances in Typhoon capabilities, in recognition of its long-term role in supporting national defense and security priorities. The new radar will ensure that RAF Typhoons can simultaneously detect, identify and track multiple targets on land and at sea, providing enhanced air power capabilities.

The advanced radar prototype, developed and manufactured by Leonardo in Edinburgh and Luton, is undergoing specialist testing at a unique facility at BAE Systems’ air combat site in Warton, Lancashire. This work is expected to lead to initial flight tests in 2024.

Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK, Leonardo, said: “The ECRS MK2 radar program will offer a world-leading capability developed by our qualified engineers in Edinburgh and Luton. We are very proud to be able to contribute in this way to the safety and security of the United Kingdom, and to ensure the UK is equipped to play a central role in the next generation combat air programme. The ECRS MK2 will not only provide critical capabilities to the Typhoon, but will develop and maintain critical capabilities relevant to future development and other core programs in the air domain.”

Andrea Thompson, European and International BAE Systems Air Managing Director, explained: “The Typhoon is a fantastic aircraft that continues to provide critical support to defense and security operations around the world, including NATO policing of eastern Europe. The Typhoon’s continued evolution as a world-class combat air platform ensures the RAF maintains its edge and protects the dynamic ecosystem that underpins our UK sovereign air combat capability, by maintaining and developing the technical capabilities critical to the UK’s future air combat strategy. .”