An advanced new radar, which will equip Royal Air Force pilots with the ability to locate, identify, and suppress enemy air defences, has taken to the skies for the first time. The latest prototype of the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mark 2 has been flown on a UK Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft at BAE Systems’ flight test facility in Lancashire. The flight is the latest milestone in the ongoing development programme for the UK Typhoon and will strengthen the aircraft’s control of the airspace and provide cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities making it an even more potent part of the NATO’s frontline fleet.
“This is another landmark moment in this strategically important programme which will provide the RAF with battle-winning technology that gives them the edge to protect the nation. The ECRS Mk2 radar will further transform Eurofighter Typhoon’s control of the air and provide exceptional capability our adversaries will struggle to match.” Nick Moore, Typhoon DepHd Capability Acquisition at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S).
“Evolution of Typhoon’s air combat capability is paramount to ensure Typhoon 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,” Air Commodore Nick Lowe, Head Capability Delivery Combat Air and Typhoon Senior Responsible Officer, RAF said.
The first flight follows a programme of integration, ground-based testing delivered through a successful collaboration between MoD Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the RAF, and industry leaders BAE Systems and Leonardo. The development of Typhoon’s radar supports more than 600 jobs across the UK’s combat air industry, including more than 300 in Edinburgh, 100 in Luton, and 120 in Lancashire. And in parallel with the trials, the radar’s production design has also been progressing apace. Typhoon exports sales have helped to generate more than £30bn return to the UK economy to date, from an initial investment of £12bn investment from the UK Government.
