Leonardo has signed a contract to complete the development of a game-changing new radar, ready to be integrated into the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon fleet, which will transform the aircraft’s control of the air and provide additional electronic warfare capabilities.
The contract, awarded by BAE Systems to Leonardo, will see further development of technology and integration work on the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radar by Leonardo and BAE Systems. BAE Systems leads the overall design, development, manufacture and upgrade of the Typhoon aircraft for the UK, Leonardo is the lead for the aircraft’s main sensing and survivability systems including its radar, defensive aids sub-system and infrared search and track system.
The contract is part of the UK Government announcement made in July 2022, to invest £2.35 billion in the continued technology advancements in Typhoon capabilities, as recognition of its long-term role supporting national security and defence priorities. The new radar will ensure the RAF Typhoons can simultaneously detect, identify and track various targets on land and at sea, providing greater Air Power capability.
A prototype of the state-of-the-art radar, developed and manufactured by Leonardo in Edinburgh and Luton, is undergoing specialist testing in a unique facility at BAE Systems combat air site in Warton, Lancashire. The work is expected to lead to initial flight testing in 2024.
