An advanced electronic warfare radar system developed for the Royal Air Force (RAF) has successfully flown for the first time, marking a key milestone in the ongoing enhancement of the UK Typhoon fleet.

The European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2), designed to help RAF pilots locate, identify, and suppress enemy air defences, was operated aboard a UK Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft at BAE Systems’ facility in Lancashire.

The new radar, developed by Leonardo UK, will not only perform traditional radar functions such as search and targeting but will also provide enhanced electronic warfare capabilities. This includes the ability to locate and jam adversary radar systems, giving the Typhoon a significant edge in air combat while remaining out of the reach of enemy defences.

Air Commodore Nick Lowe, Head of Capability Delivery Combat Air and Typhoon Senior Responsible Officer for the RAF, commented on the successful flight:

“Evolution of Typhoon’s air combat capability is paramount to ensure it continues to deter potential aggressors, defend our nation and defeat our adversaries wherever we need to fly and fight, whether for the UK or in our staunch support to the NATO alliance. This first flight of this ECRS Mk2 prototype new radar in the test aircraft is a positive step towards ensuring this.”

Andy Holden, Radar Delivery Director at BAE Systems, added:

“The development of Typhoon’s radar supports 600 jobs across the UK’s combat air industry. Programmes such as the ECRS Mk2 ensure the UK retains a sovereign capability to develop and integrate cutting-edge systems into frontline combat aircraft such as Typhoon. Through this work, we’re directly supporting critical know-how and sustaining hundreds of highly-skilled jobs.”

Tim Bungey, Chief Engineer for ECRS Mk2 at Leonardo UK, highlighted the technological advancements:

“In parallel with the trials, the radar’s production design has also been progressing apace. The development of the ECRS Mk2 is fully using the UK’s world-class radar design skills. Over the past few months, its processor, receiver and antenna power supply and control units have all been re-engineered from the prototype design to further enhance the capacity, capability, and performance of the Mk2 system in alignment with the new antenna and electronic warfare capability.”

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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29 COMMENTS

    • I believe it should have superior capabilities to the F35, it’s a larger scanning array, with a repositioner, so a much larger field of view.

      It’s technology is 10 years newer, so the individual transmit, receive modules, should be a generation on, all things considered, it should have longer detection ranges and superior electronic attack capabilities.

        • To be fair, that’s been in development for many years now, so Radar 2 probably still has the edge.

          It’s a larger scanner, on a re-positioner, so it has inherited advantages.

        • TR-3 is not the radar…..

          F-35 uses the AN/APG-81 which first flew in 2005, but leans very heavily on the architecture of the AN/APG-77 from the F-22 which dates back in design to the early 1990’s.

          The latest radar on F-35 is the AN/APG-85, which will arrive on Lot 17 aircraft in 2025. This is a development of the AN/APG-81 though, not an entirely new radar. ECRS 2 is a far newer concept than the F-35’s radar’s…

      • Until the APG-85 enters service on the F35 from around 2028. ECRS MK2 will provide outstanding capability for Typhoon. But it’s taken a very long time to come to fruition. And still some years away from IOC. Together though. Typhoon and F35B will provide an enormous capability.

        • It certainly will, we can only hope it’s fielded across the tranche 2 fleet aswell.

          If the RAF is going to rely on a handful of Squdrons, then the aircraft it employs are going to have to be a massive overmatch for any potential opposition.

          • SPEAR 3/EW will also be a big step forward. As you say, let’s hope the T2 jets also get the new radar. They are receiving other considerable upgrades as part of the 2.5bn upgrade package.

  6. I am not a Radar buff..only a keen military aircraft enthusiast. Did the original Typhoons to Oman or UAE ? have the Captor E Radar ? Better than the tranch 1 systems we had on our UK fleet at the beginning? Also will the Russians & Chinese develop a longer range ( EXTREME Beyond Visual ) that may render a long reaching Radar obsolete? Surely even an AMRAAM type upgrade AAM ..hooked up to a stealth jet will sneak in undetected at closer range …& Do the same job as a very long searching Radar on a 4.5 gen. Jet. ..is it better to engage a target at extreme ranges 120+ miles ? Plus jam the frequency of the opponent & Then redirect to new scans if multiple targets . It’s like a poor man’s way of staying out of trouble …more economically than sneaking in & loosing off 4 arrows with a 90% chance of a kill on all 4 enemies…What also is the future of IR close in weapons if you can’t get close enough to an adversaries stealth jet. Could a super long range Active Radar missile ….when it’s travelled to 80% of it’s distance …then switch to IR homing for its last & final run to a lit up target ?

    • Good questions. To my mind a very long range radar would need very long range missiles which are then much larger, more detectable because of it and lastly heavier to carry and take up more and a very sophisticated ir seeker.
      I thought the Oman jets has Captor E as well.
      If we do not but more Typhoons, then we should at least soup them all up with the new radar?
      Spear3…needed ASAP.
      AA

    • Radar 1, I believe (as supplied to Oman etc), is basically the upgraded guts of Captor M, with a swash plate mounted array.

      Radar 2 ( we are told) is effectively a brand new Radar with significantly enhanced features.

      Re stealth…. You have to remember that Typhoon apparently has a very small frontal RCS, this is aided by a ‘canted’ array, when it’s not in use, so the dish doesn’t contribute to the return.

      Now, an upgraded block 3 Typoon, with radar2, updated optronics and an updated electronic support measures will be an exceedingly dangerous opponent to any stealth aircraft.

    • No.

      First Captor-E radar’s came off the Italian line for the Kuwaiti orders. Then Qatar’s (not UAE) from the UK line. These use the ECRS mk.0.

      Oman and Saudi operate Typhoon with Captor-M. They will likely upgrade to the new radar from the UK as will Italy. Germay and Spain will stay with the Hensoldt developed (and inferior) ECRS mk.1 (although Germany might use ECRS mk.2 for the Typhoon EK new production.

      So…Typhoon radar operators…

      Captor M – UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Austria on legacy Typhoon

      ECRS Mk.0 – Kuwait and Qatar on new build

      ECRS Mk.1 – Germany and Spain on new and rebuilt T2’s and T3’s

      ECRS Mk.2 – UK on rebuild T3 at present…then likely Italy, Saudi Arabia, Oman and potentially Germany, primarily rebuild T2 and T3, but also some new build (Italy, Germany and potentially Saudi).

      Austria will more than likely not upgrade as they only operate Tranche 1 Typhoon and plan to replace with F-35. Their only option for upgrade would be the AESA panel upgrade to the Captor-M that has been proposed in the past.

      Dual mode missiles are a thing and MBDA in particular have looked at it in the past and in future concepts…

      Typhoon doesn’t have a large RCS…getting a lock at >60nm is very unlikely…

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