Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has been awarded a contract extension for the Eurofighter Mk1 radar, valued at approximately 350 million euros, according to a press release.
The extension follows approval by the German and Spanish Ministries of Defence and commissions further development tasks by Airbus Defence and Space.
The project, known as the ECRS Mk1 (Eurofighter Common Radar System Mark 1) programme, is set to equip the German and Spanish air forces with an advanced E-Scan radar that will enhance the Eurofighter’s capabilities in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, while also providing electronic warfare functions.
The contract extension covers the delivery of test systems for the German radar test aircraft, the Airbus A320 D-ATRA, along with revisions to the Mk1 Step 1 radar system.
It also includes an initial development phase for ECRS Mk1 Step 2, which will integrate with Airbus Defence and Space’s Attack & Identify system to significantly reduce pilot workload and boost operational effectiveness.
Frank Döngi, Head of Eurofighter Radar, explained, “The contract extension ensures the development of an air-certifiable, robust Eurofighter Mk1 radar for Germany and Spain. Our goal is to start flight testing of the revised radar at the end of 2025. Installation of the Mk1 Step 1 on the German Quadriga Eurofighters is then scheduled to begin in the course of 2027,” as quoted in the press release.
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Would that be the Spain that spends 1% of GDP on Defence????
Okay I am confused.,aren’t the Brits already testing an advanced Escan radar for Typhoon?
Yep, the UK (and maybe Italy?) are developing the ECRS 2 which is more advanced than this one. It is probabky more expenaive than Germany and Spain are willing to go for though, or maybe Germany just wants to give business to HENSOLDT.
Running slow as molasses at the moment and currently only slated for the 40 odd tranche 3 airframes …. Eventually, when he’ll freezes over.
Hopefully SDSR25 will confirm Tranch 2 are also to receive Radar2, we will see…
Thanks for the clarification
Radar 2 is more advanced that radar 1 and will have EW functions. Germany may well use it on the Typhoon EK.
To clarify Bazza’s comment. There are three AESA radars for the Typhoon. There is the export version called European common radar system (ECRS) Mk 0, which Kuwaiti and Qatari Typhoons are getting. I believe Saudi are also looking at a radar upgrade for their Typhoons, which may have to be the ECRS Mk0. Then there’s the Hensoldt version called Radar 1 or ECRS Mk1. The MoD wanted a radar for Typhoon that was comparable in performance with the F35’s. So Leonardo made CAPTOR-E Radar 2 (ECRS Mk2). This will incorporate a dedicated electronics warfare attack mode. Which should give it similar capabilities to the F35s APG81/85 radar.
Leonardo have also mounted the AESA array on a swash plate. This allows the radar to swing +/- 30 degrees in azimuth. Which then gives the radar the ability to search +/-90 degrees in azimuth (180 degrees field of view). I think this is patented by Leonardo, so I don’t believe the Hensoldt radar gets this, unless they pay to licence it. This is incredibly important for beyond visual range engagements. As the launch aircraft can maintain a greater deflection angle between itself and the target. Thereby making it less of a risk when the target fires at you. Normally an AESA radar is fixed to the bulkhead. An AESA radar uses electronic beam steering, though this is usually limited to a field of view in azimuth of +/-60 degrees. So by mounting the antenna array on a swash plate that gives you an additional 30 degrees of look angle, means you don’t have to steer your jet more towards your target to see it, thereby giving the pilot quite an advantage.
Seems a lot of costly duplication of effort
It does, but a lot of it is also down to political and industrial infighting between the four partners. The RAF wanted the new Typhoon radar to be comparable to that of the F35’s. Spain and Germany (Indra and Hensoldt) weren’t then privy to what the F35’s radar could do, as they were not part of the club like the UK and Italy. So they looked at a cheaper and more modest upgrade to the legacy Captor-M. Whereas the UK in particular paid for a more expensive clean sheet requirement. Hence the two different paths.
Doesn’t the Leonardo Raven radar in the Gripen E/F also use a swash plate?
Yes. The Raven is the radar that Leonardo used as the baseline for development of the Radar 2. The swash plate was first used on the Gripen E/F with the Raven AESA radar. Though Leonardo are saying the swash plate gives the Raven a +/- 100 degree field of view. Does that mean the Radar 2 also has the same 200 degrees field of view. Whereas most of the published data says 180 degrees?
Hell freezes over even …. George, can we please have our edit back??
The main difference between the MK1 and MK2 is that the MK1 is basically an updated version of the current mechanically scanned version with an AESA scanner and slightly updated original electronics. The MK2 has a new scanner AND new electronics for the radar. Basically an all new radar. The RAF saw the MK1 and compared it tge the F35 radar used by the RAF and rejected the MK1 as it was not as good. So the MoD commissioned a radar the MK2 that would be equal or better then the F35 radar. The MK2 will be an AESA set with a mechanically positioned scan plate that will give it high volume coverage. It will also have an advanced active electronic attack capability. The Germans would be wise to buy the MK2 for their EW Typhoon. The MK1 may have som EW capability by venture of the AESA but it will fall short of the MK2.
Still an improvement on Captor-M so as it would be cheaper to put the ECRS-1 on our 67 Tranche 2 aircraft while the ECRS-2 go on the Tranche 3. I say this because ECRS tranche 2 require modification to fit the cooling for ECRS-2 rather than a simple swap keeping costs down.
If possible it could be done with the Germans/Spanish buying ECRS-2 for their new build tranche 4/5 so neither manufacturer misses out.