Leonardo DRS is establishing a permanent industrial presence in the United Kingdom with the creation of DRS UK and a purpose-built radar manufacturing site. The move is intended to support British defense requirements while expanding local engineering, production and supply-chain activity.The new facility will manufacture tactical radars capable of identifying and tracking a wide range of threats, from drones and rockets to artillery and mortar projectiles. Leonardo DRS supplies these systems for counter-drone missions, air defense, force protection and active protection applications. The company says its radar panels number more than 10,000 in service globally across US, NATO and other international customers.The investment comes as Leonardo increases its participation in UK radar programs. A £453.5-million ($600-million) contract awarded in January to Leonardo UK and BAE Systems covers 40 production-standard ECRS Mk2 active electronically scanned array radars for RAF Typhoon fighters. The system is designed to combine advanced target sensing with electronic warfare functions, including detection, identification and tracking of multiple targets as well as electronic attack in contested electromagnetic environments.Leonardo DRS also has an established UK connection through its RADA counter-UAS portfolio. The country selected the company’s hemispheric radar technology for Drone Dome in 2018, making Britain an early customer. The new DRS UK operation will extend that relationship by creating a domestic manufacturing base for a broader range of Leonardo DRS tactical radar systems.
