Britain orders ECRS Mk2 radars for Typhoon fleet

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded BAE Systems a £453.5 million ($613 million) contract to begin full production of the ECRS Mk2 radar for Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft.

The contract follows a completed program of testing and evaluation and represents the next phase of the UK’s long-term investment in Typhoon capability. The Ministry of Defence said the radar will be integrated across the RAF’s Tranche 3 Typhoon fleet, with delivery led jointly by BAE Systems and Leonardo UK.

As noted by the Ministry of Defence, the ECRS Mk2 radar is designed to provide enhanced electronic warfare capability, enabling Typhoon aircraft to detect, identify, and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground while performing electronic attack and protection functions. The radar combines traditional sensing with electronic warfare roles in a single system, reducing reliance on external support assets and improving survivability in contested airspace.

The radar will be developed and manufactured by Leonardo at its sites in Edinburgh and Luton, while BAE Systems will carry out integration work on Typhoon aircraft at its facilities in Lancashire. According to the companies, 38 ECRS Mk2 radars will be produced under the current contract and installed on the full fleet of Tranche 3 Typhoon jets. The radar is scheduled to enter service with the RAF by the end of the decade.

Richard Hamilton, Managing Director for Air Operations at BAE Systems Air, said the Typhoon program remains central to UK defense and NATO operations.

“The Typhoon programme is a fundamental pillar of the UK’s national defence and security,” Hamilton said. “Operating at the heart of NATO operations, Typhoon aircraft provide air policing along Europe’s eastern flank. The continued investment in Typhoon capability is crucial and ensures we’re able to maximise the UK’s investment in the aircraft and accelerate combat air technologies critical for defence capabilities.”

Defence Secretary John Healey said the upgrade comes as air threats increase across Europe.

“Our Typhoon fleet is the backbone of UK and NATO air defence, operated across Europe by the Royal Air Force and our allies to protect our skies and security,” Healey said. “As the threats we face increase, and as Russian drones continue to strike Ukraine and violate NATO airspace, this cutting-edge radar capability will keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad for many years to come.”

The Ministry of Defence said the contract will directly support around 1,300 jobs across the UK defense sector, including 400 roles at Leonardo and more than 120 at BAE Systems, primarily in Scotland and the North West of England. Beyond the immediate radar program, the Typhoon enterprise sustains a much larger industrial base.

According to government figures, the Typhoon program supports more than 20,000 jobs across the UK each year. That workforce is expected to be sustained following the largest fighter jet export deal in a generation, after Türkiye signed a contract in October valued at approximately £5.4 billion for 20 Typhoon aircraft.

The Typhoon program is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most successful defense export efforts, contributing about £1.4 billion in exports annually. To date, export sales have delivered more than £30 billion in value to the UK economy, more than double the roughly £12 billion invested in the program.

The ECRS Mk2 radar is a core element of the UK’s plan to keep Typhoon operationally effective alongside newer platforms. The aircraft continues to perform air policing missions across NATO’s eastern flank, quick reaction alert duties in the UK, and forward deployments in support of allied operations.

The Ministry of Defence said the radar upgrade ensures Typhoon remains capable against evolving air and missile threats while supporting interoperability with allied forces operating in Europe and beyond.