More than half a billion pounds has been committed this week to upgrading the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fighter fleet, a move the government says will secure over 1,500 skilled jobs across the United Kingdom and reinforce the aircraft’s role as the backbone of British air defence.
The investment includes a £453 million contract awarded to UK industry for the manufacture of advanced radar systems, with Defence Secretary John Healey confirming the deal during a visit to Leonardo UK’s site in Edinburgh. Under the contract, BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt will deliver new radar capability for RAF Typhoons over the coming years. The work will sustain around 300 highly skilled jobs in Scotland, alongside 120 roles in Lancashire and more than 100 in Luton. Across the wider supply chain, the Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs at 330 companies nationwide.
The radar contract follows a £205 million five-year agreement announced earlier this week with QinetiQ to provide long-term engineering support for the Typhoon fleet, sustaining up to 250 further jobs. Combined, the two announcements represent more than £650 million in defence investment in a single week. The funding delivers on commitments made in the Strategic Defence Review to continue upgrading Typhoon, which is expected to remain in frontline service until at least the 2040s.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the aircraft remained central to UK and NATO security.
“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. 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.”
He added that the investment was directly linked to sustaining skilled employment.
“In Edinburgh and across the UK, we’re backing more than 20,000 skilled workers on the Typhoon programme who ensure our RAF remains ready to protect Britain. Our government has backed their high-skilled work with more than £650 million of investment this week alone, securing British jobs and making defence an engine for growth in Scotland and beyond.”
The upgrade programme will deliver 40 European Common Radar System Mk2 radars for RAF Typhoons, including 38 new systems and modifications to two test units. Once fitted, the radars will allow aircraft to detect, identify and track multiple air and ground targets simultaneously, while also providing electronic attack and high-powered jamming capabilities in contested environments.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said the contract underlined Scotland’s role within the UK’s defence industrial base.
“This £453 million contract award to build state-of-the-art radar systems for Typhoon fighter jets shows just how vital Scottish expertise is to the UK’s national security. This upgrade to the RAF fleet, sustaining 300 jobs at Leonardo in Edinburgh and many more in the supply chain, is the latest in an impressive line of defence dividend wins for Scotland.”
Leonardo UK said the programme would support advanced engineering skills across multiple disciplines.
“ECRS Mk2 isn’t just an exceptional radar,” said Mark Stead, Senior Vice President of Radar and Advanced Targeting at Leonardo UK. “It’s equipped with advanced electronic surveillance and electronic attack capabilities which will make RAF Typhoons more potent against their adversaries, adapting to new and unpredictable threats.”
He said the contract would secure 300 roles in Edinburgh and around 100 in Luton, while supporting more than 70 UK-based suppliers.
BAE Systems Managing Director for Europe and International, Richard Hamilton, said continued investment in Typhoon was essential to maintaining combat air capability.
“The Typhoon programme is a fundamental pillar of the UK’s national defence and security,” he said. “Operating at the heart of NATO operations, Typhoon aircraft provide air policing along Europe’s eastern flank.”
So only 40 airframes to get the upgrade? What about the other 60+? This is just like C3 where only 60 are slated to get Trophy APS – what about the other 88 tanks?
Yes, what happens then if the remaining 88 are needed in battle to replace losses or to be deployed elsewhere? Not safe, not doable, so not usable?? They should do the whole lot and upgrade a greater pool of tanks. Get it over 200+.
Might be good to add z C-aus rws to the CR3s. The latest Abram’s seems to have the Konesburg RS6 station on it, same as on the Boxer. Would the UK do the same?
Only 40 sets?!?!?
Surely the main cost here is the R&D, so manufacturing more for the entire fleet should reduce the cost per unit considerably.
Then there’s exports orders to further spread the R&D cost… 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
MOD has been asked to find cuts this year. It will be hard to order anything not previously agreed.
Its ridiculous all this cost cutting. Surely in these times if defence needs an uptake it should be given some slack? Find cuts else where, get better value for spends, reduce wastage, duplication, claw money back from GD for Ajax, cancel or delay the MRSS for now??