A prototype of the advanced ECRS Mk 2 (European Common Radar System Mk2) radar has been delivered to BAE Systems’ flight-testing facility in Warton, Lancashire, marking a significant milestone in the development of the UK’s Typhoon fleet.

The radar, designed to enhance the Eurofighter Typhoon’s air control capabilities, will enable the aircraft to detect, identify, and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground simultaneously.

The prototype was manufactured by Leonardo in Edinburgh and arrived at BAE Systems’ site on March 31. Over the next year, it will be integrated into the Typhoon aircraft, with initial flight testing scheduled for 2024.

The ECRS Mk2 radar is being developed as part of a £2.35 billion investment under the Phased 4 Enhancement programme, which involves collaboration between the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

The new radar system is expected to support operations in challenging environments, providing pilots with the ability to suppress enemy air defences through high-powered jamming and engage targets from a safe distance.

Upon successful integration and testing, the ECRS Mk2 radar will reinforce the Typhoon aircraft’s position as a key component of the UK’s combat air capability, ensuring its role in domestic and international defence for years to come.

You can read more on this here.

Tom Dunlop
Tom Dunlop
Tom has spent the last 13 years working in the defence industry, specifically military and commercial shipbuilding. His work has taken him around Europe and the Far East, he is currently based in Scotland.

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75 COMMENTS

  1. Excellent news – but as always, how many of our ~100 Typhoons will actually get the new radar? Also, does this tie in with the new cockpit, or is that a separate standalone activity?

    • The cockpit upgrade is another separate activity, but is linked to the radar upgrade. There are also a number of other projects underway such as the Praetorian DASS upgrade, plus a rumour of a PIRATE IRST upgrade..

      The issue the RAF will face is having two different types of radar on the same tranche of aircraft. This will also lead to logistics issues from maintaining two separate streams of spares along with maintenance contracts. At some point in the near future the mechanically scanned radar will be facing obsolescence issues. Where various components are no longer in production. Which will get excessively expensive to spin up/manufacture new batches when needed.

      This could also be an issue for a pilot. Who may be trained on both systems. But in the heat of a complex fight might make mistakes based on the radar they are using. n the past when an aircraft had a major upgrade, pilots were not allowed to fly the previous version of aircraft for combat operations for this very reason. Today with the low number of qualified pilots we have, this could be a problem.

    • The current contract is for 40. But once in service hopefully that number will be increased to the whole fleet. £2.35Bn is serious cash for phase 4 enhancements. We are spending this kind of money on increasing capability instead of upgrading T1 aircraft or buying new airframes.

  2. This is excellent news- however as per David’s response below i am also worried about the low numbers being updated with what will obviously be a game changing radar capability. If we are only able to update 68 I think Typhoons with this capability then we most likely need a new batch of typhoons ordered or bring Tempest into service earlier than expected. I think the Typhoon additional batch of say 36 aircraft is very much necessary.

    • I agree with the need to increase the frontline strength, but I think the chances of us ordering any more Typhoons are somewhere between not a lot and zero, sadly. As for the number of radars there is always the chance that we could buy a few more, although unlikely I think it is more likely than a new airframe buy…

      Lets hope this all successfully leads into Tempest and a few UAV’s…

      Cheers CR

    • Tempest 🤣

      If it ever makes it through cuts it’ll be 20 years late and so over budget we can afford only half a dozen of them. Like nearly everything this country does.

      It shouldn’t even factor into any decisions made over the existing fleet.

      • IF Tempest didn’t make it into full production by the time Typhoon is retired, it would be very interesting to see what actually replaced Typhoon would it not?
        Can’t see it being F35, it’s not the right aircraft, US NGAD probably far too expensive, not a lot left to choose from really!
        Being a ‘glass half full’ person, would like to think that Tempest gets built and brought into service.

        • Well the RAF will need something and that is for sure. Although I honestly would not be surprised if the total western 6 generation offers ends up at being only 2 different aircraft as in the US offer and a joint European/Japanese offer. Although I suspect the US may have learnt their lesson with the F22 disaster and in the end try and get partners and a more affordable aircraft.

          • Totally agree, the RAF will need something, would like to believe that it’s Tempest, not sure if the US would be willing to sell their 6th gen AD fighter if the debate around the B21 Raider is anything to go by.

          • Yes the US were quite willing to shoot themselves in the foot over not being willing to export F22, no reason to think they may not do it again.

          • Didn’t I read somewhere (most probably on here) that Regan offered some to Tatcher – and she refused?
            Not sure of the in’s and out’s or even how much truth in that – Ilm sure someone on here will enlighten/correct me accordingly.

          • Not sure but I know they have specific legislation that means it’s not legal for them to have exported it at all.

          • I’ve heard that storuy too, but that was the F-117, not the F-22 (IIRC Thatcher said no as it was still a black project and we don’t have any convenient deserts to fly them from late at night). The Raptor was always a USAF-only toy, the Japanese asked for some and got rebuked.

          • Nighthawk F117s where offered. Fine and stealthy against certain radars but not against all.
            The RN frigates and destroyers where tracking then all the time in the years before and latterly during GW1

        • Tempest must get built. Japan need it also to replace there aircraft.
          The only other options would be the US airforce or navy aircraft. If that was the choice it’s a bit silly putting all the cash into development and giving companies hope of orders.
          The good thing is the way tempest is being made to be upgrade frown friendly.

    • Can’t see Tempest will come in earlier, as it is it will be coming in in less than half the time the Typhoon did after its technology demonstrator (around 8 against 17 I believe). Yes the Typhoon had well know Political hurdles over many years but even if that’s avoided again, the technological challenges seem a lot greater. Thankfully work on this radar, the engines and even the aero dynamic and stealth aspects have already progressed somewhat thanks to previous programmes including Replica thankfully.

    • Tranche 1 has limited Power availability to be upgraded. They also require a E3/E7 to be effective as a Interceptor as they have limited Radar range and width. They cannot be upgraded as On board Power has peaked. that’s why there being pensioned off. The paper on upgrading was that basically better to build new. due to airframe hours

    • Probably only some of the tranche 3 jets, my guess would be 50 or so tops, possibly less.

      As said, the usual fleets with in fleets issue, except this time it’s tiny fleets within fleets.

      The government is simply not interested in defence, they view Typhoon as good enough and probably don’t see the need for a new radar. ‘Why would we fund that when we are funding Tempest’ I am sure the treasury are saying..

      this project has dragged on for years as a low priority, it’s still nowhere near service entry.

      It’s such a shame, the Thypoon has tremendous development potential still in it as a platform, I doubt the RAF will get to unlock it’s full potential unfortunately.

      • HMG will always fund their fat cat industry friends over HM forces. Always. Without fail. I can see numbers cut to spend billions on Tempest.
        The usual carrot in exchange for cuts now, that then gets eaten away later once the money is spent and the forces see little or none of it.
        Then, down the line, the money is in shareholders pockets and Tempest gets scaled back or cancelled.
        Was the same with 95 Front Line First, and the 2010 cuts, and 2015, annnd 2017, annnnnd recently with “sunset” capabilities that are still relevant and in use.
        Then repeat.
        Am I being too cynical?

          • I don’t know. I try to stay positive with our many, many positives but the inevitability of endless cuts gets you down sometimes. Tech, logistics, know how and training can trump sheer numbers, we know that. But we need more mass.

          • I might ask why our carriers have no arrestor wire capability, why a small cabal of senior civil servants decided to go for the hugely expensive, extremely heavy F35B instead of the F16 and why they just scrapped the fleet repair ship RFA Diligence with no replacement.

            The problem is the total lack of accountability. Its still going on now, Wallace has just thrown another £450million at Ajax – which will keep the gravy train going until Labour take power and scrap it, insteadof the people who make these decisions

          • F35B to F16 isn’t even a comparison.
            RFA Diligence was decommissioned 7 years ago and whilst a shame, is hardly a necessary capability. In wartime another ship could be STUFT but it’s hard to justify costs in peacetime when there are so many other gaps.
            Labour scrapping Ajax would be a very poor decision and would basically mean it was all a waste.
            Wallace is actually very good at his role and when he is replaced I doubt it would be by a better person.

          • David. You must know by now why we have VTOL carrier’s. And the F35B is the only 5th gen game in town.

          • The costs of converting to CTOL in 2010 were deemed too expensive so they remained with the B, which I believe was the correct choice rather than switch to F35C.

            Assume you meant F18 and F16 was a slip David but for me F35 is the only game in town.

            Diligence agree was a shame, like so many other cuts. They deemed the capability expendable with port repairs possible.

            I support Ajax myself.

            What I DO agree with you on ( get the bunting out!! 😆 ) is a lack of accountability and the v bad habit of ex brass going on to cushy consultancy jobs, like D Land at DES now at GDUK and the nod and a wink, jobs for the boys stuff that goes on.

            The FMH AW will be the be the next one, a shoo in and ordered in half the number needed. I’d bet on it. SB1 a new poster on here and AAC himself agrees it’s a shoo in yet what the military actually want is BH.

            What the military WANT is not a priority when the MIC is concerned.

          • Apologies Daniele I did mean the F18. I would dispute the alleged “excessive” costs of fitting the carriers with CTOL, the 2012 decision to adopt the F-35B carried with it significant risks of increased lifetime costs, decreased capability compared to the F35C, operational difficulties (remember the ski jump incident a couple of years ago) and in the long term, saddling the Royal Navy with an obsolete deck configuration for its carriers.

            But as usual you are probably right

          • Apologies Daniele I did mean the F18. I would dispute the alleged “excessive” costs of fitting the carriers with CTOL, the 2012 decision to adopt the F-35B carried with it significant risks of increased lifetime costs, decreased capability compared to the F35C, operational difficulties (remember the ski jump incident a couple of years ago) and in the long term, saddling the Royal Navy with an obsolete deck configuration for its carriers.

            But as usual you are probably right

          • On this one, I would have to go with the F-35B as my preference too- F-35C is well behind in terms of entry into service compared to the other two types. The first operational cruise for a squadron of F-35C occurred last year with the USN, while we’ve had an operational squadron stood up for a few years now. If we’d gone CATOBAR, we’d literally have a couple of cariers with no aircraft, as the papers love to pretend is the case at the moment.

          • But the UK Sourced a prime partner slot on the most successful 5th gen fighter project in history, USMC love a Ramp gives them 25 secs of extra time to get a aircraft sorted and flying over there own Flat decked carriers. Again Ford Class cannot shot anything with Composite panels or tanks, as its still to powerful. imagine if our 2 new carriers couldn’t launch the aircraft we had brought. bad enough with one in dry dock.

          • I’d just like to see some multi-function asset on the carriers that can refuel the F35s, so the jets can achieve the range the Buccaneers had (and some more) but also serve as a long endurance AEW platform. Something akin to the hot-swap of a box-of-tricks on a single airframe.

          • Assume a drone at some point judging by the MoDs pretty graphics concerning future programmes.

            AEW not so sure as Davey B explained the difficulties there.

          • AEW you have to go back to the Lockheed Martin PODs that lost to Crowsnest, due to short term solution. the LM AEW pod can be fitted to any suitable platform, was not fully developed and Crowsnest selected to Fill that gap while being developed.

          • We could not afford CATOBAR it would have been an utter disaster…the effort to keep a carrier qualified CATOBAR air wing is hugely expensive….France really struggles…with the Elizabeth’s we can keep all our expensive aircraft nice and safe on an airbase and just bung them on an Elizabeth as needed…instead of wearing out airframes and pilots just to keep a qualified air wing up,

          • Well said Jonathan, I had this dream of two carrier strike groups with 24 aircraft on each – as well as helicopters – each with 3 T45’s and an Astute in the vicinity….

          • Well said Jonathan, I had this dream of two carrier strike groups with 24 aircraft on each – as well as helicopters – each with 3 T45’s and an Astute in the vicinity….

          • QE design was looked at to provide the RN with its best capability, the design was looked at, BAEs approached to navalism the Typhoon. QE Class with cats n traps as per Ford Class the technology was considered a risk. Sea Typhoon was a complete redesign. the cost was seen to high UK got 2 carriers for the price of one Ford. RN stopped shooting planes and was a capability seen as a backwards step. FORD Class still only 75% operational as it cannot shot its prime aircraft.

          • I think in the end there is going to need to be a bit of a rebalance especially around aircraft…even the US ended up hurting itself by going to exquisite with the F22…in the end needing to keep the F18 production line going as well as upgrading the F15 to keep it operational into the 2040s. There is really no reason at all for the RAF to not double down on the typhoon ( after all it’s 20 years younger than the F15). In reality the UK government should be ordering a batch 4 buy to replace the batch 1s as well as ensuring all the batch 2-3 receive a full upgrade and keep..they should really keep the typhoon production lines ticking over with batch 4 orders as long as they can..Then if there is a delay in the new 6 generation fighter or it’s very expensive and takes decade or 2 to full full the order ( very likely if you consider the F35 procurement timeline) we still have good supply od typhoons that are still current in the 2040s-2050s.

          • Agree, I’d love an extra Typhoon buy. Sadly we know there’s no chance whatsoever really. I’d be shocked and delighted to be proven wrong.

          • Actually DM, I’m wondering if there is an opportunity to “piggy back” on the future Saudi Typhoon tranche 4 buy? I believe they are acquiring a further 48 (unsure when though).

            So possibly , a reduced cost RAF buy based on economies for scale? Dare I suggest a one for one replacement for the tranche 1’s?

          • Sadly your very right, which means I do think we may end up with a pinch point of capability in the 2040s as I would lay good money on the new 6 generation plane not being at squadron levels and mature until the 2050s at that point the tranche 2s will be 40 years old and probably knackered ( with even the tranche 3 being 30 years old)…but a tranche 4 buy in the mid 2020s delivered late 2020s would mean we had some younger airframes for squadrons into the 2050s I’d needed.

            I know there is no hope really.

          • Absolutely! 70 F35B is enough for carrier operations, especially as the tailored air-groups start to have UCAV’s in the mix.

            We need to continue to invest in Typhoon to keep it relevant as the backbone of the RAF way into the 2040’s and provide a smooth transition as Tempest ramps up.

            That means spiral development of the current fleet but also means tranche 4 as the Germans and Spanish are now doing.

          • To be honest I think we do need the full 130 f35 buy, but you have to remember that it’s going to be over decades..in reality the F35 production line is probably going to be pushing out airframes until the 2040s…at which point we would have worn out the present and near future fleet…..I agree keeping the fleet to about 70 would work ( if we are only ever having 2-3 squadrons) but to keep that fleet we will probably end up closer to buying 130…in reality the f35 is going to be flying of the Elizabeth’s into the 2060s and beyond. If we only ever buy 70 at some point in 2040-50 we are going to be down to a handful of airframes…and the reality is any f35 replacement is going to be developed after the next Bach of 6th generation fighters being developed for the 2030s and deployment in the 2040s..so a f35 replacement is likely to be something new in the 2060s-2070s…if we stopped at 70 then we would have nothing left to fly. That’s the reason why the British government have never formally jacked in the 130+ buy as it’s a multi generational procurement.

          • Yes if we have learned anything while you need your hi end super capable aircraft it’s equally important to have good but on paper less capable and fundamentally cheaper older aircraft to do the donkey work. Otherwise you are likely never too likely to risk your high end assets at all.

          • Also just the cost per flight hour…I’m pretty sure they now have the typhoon down to the same cost per fight hour as an f16…which is pretty amazing from a running cost point of view.

        • No mate, utterly correct, we’ve seen the same pattern, decade in and decade out, I see no reason they would, or are changing direction.

          I’m just resigned to it now, same old shit….

      • If you cared to read the full article. You would have seen this is part of a £2.35Bn phase 4 enhancement package for Typhoon. That’s serious cash for one platform. That’s for the new radar. Wide area cockpit display upgrade. Striker 2 digital helmet mounted display. Upgraded defensive aids plus many more enhancements. RAF Typhoon will be by a long way the most capable Typhoons in service.

        • Totally agree Robert – we will have a superb platform with the Phase 4 enhancements but I think the tone here is how many of the current fleet will actually get the upgrades. We have precious few as it is!

          • The 40 tranche 3 aircraft are under contract to recive the new radar. Hopefully the tranche 2 aircraft will too.

          • Nope, no chance re Tranche 2 … So the cutting edge of the RAF will have 40 cutting edge aircraft Robert, for 2 plus billion pounds, if you consider that’s a good deal, I’m bloody glad you don’t do the financial planning in my business.

            So what will the 40 aircraft break down into, 3 squadrons??, the Russians must be terrified…

          • After the performance the Russian Air Force has demonstrated over Ukraine, I’m sure they would be over the moon with 40 aircraft with the capability Typhoon will possess. Phase 4 covers enhancements to the whole Typhoon fleet. T2 aircraft will also receive incremental upgrades. They are all Centurion standard (StormShadow, Brimstone 2, PE4, Meteor) You don’t know the full details of the contract to make such a presuming comment.

          • I’m afraid I do Robert, three and a half decades of closely watching UK defence procurement ineptitude allows me to make judgment calls with a very high degree of accuracy….

            It goes like this, gold plate all requirements, then drip feed funding, followed by reduced numbers procured and a resultant constantly contracting force structure…

            I see no evidence that this will be any different..

          • Hi John. I’ll reply to you properly later. I’m out on the beers with the wife in Leeds.👍🍻 .

      • I believe I read this radar existed in prototype form 20 odd years ago but not deemed a high priority and sat on the shelf. When it belatedly became one its innards was so reliant on 90s components that a complete re-design was required to re-model it throughout. Thus the long delays since.

  5. Great news… This radar is likely to be as good as the one on F35 and possibly better with a wide field of view.

    • It should certainly be better, considering it’s 10 years ahead of F35.

      The swish plate design will give it a far wider field of view and the larger number of TR modules should give it greater range and increase capabilities all round.

      The problem is, it will only ever be intigrated onto a small number of aircraft, Tranche 2 won’t receive further significant upgrades, I’ll bet my house on that.

      It’s like 150 Chally 3, 40 odd enhanced Thypoons is all fairly academic, no mass, no real capability….

      Robust self defense I suppose, perhaps we are planning to become a neutral country like Ireland?

      • It doesn’t use a swashplate repositioner, but rather the same ‘jointed’ design as the Raven on the Gripe-E.

  6. I may be in a minority here but isn’t it about time we stopped publishing everything online when it’s about Britain’s defences, or equipment. Now there’s no need for spies anymore because the data is being posted on the Internet for all to read. Sorry if I am just being “old school” in my thoughts.

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