BAE Systems has secured a £453.5 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to equip Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets with a next-generation radar system, significantly enhancing the aircraft’s combat and electronic warfare performance. The contract marks the transition of the ECRS Mk2 radar from development into full production after years of government-backed research and testing.
The program will see 38 ECRS Mk2 radars delivered by BAE Systems and Leonardo UK, with the systems destined for the RAF’s Tranche 3 Typhoon fleet. Scheduled to achieve operational readiness by the late 2020s, the radar will provide improved situational awareness, allowing Typhoon pilots to detect, classify, and engage multiple threats across air and ground domains while operating in electronically contested battlespaces.
The contract will sustain around 1,300 high-skilled jobs across the UK defense sector. Leonardo UK will lead radar development and manufacturing at its Edinburgh and Luton facilities, while BAE Systems will manage system integration and flight testing at its Lancashire operations, reinforcing domestic expertise in advanced combat aviation technologies.
As the RAF’s backbone fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon plays a central role in UK homeland defense and NATO quick reaction alert missions, regularly intercepting unidentified aircraft near allied airspace. Continuous upgrades have transformed the Typhoon into a multi-mission combat aircraft, capable of precision strike, ISR, and electronic warfare. The ECRS Mk2 radar investment further strengthens the platform’s long-term relevance, supporting both operational effectiveness and the UK’s defense industrial and export ecosystem, which has generated more than £30 billion in international sales to date.
