A programme of ground-based testing has been completed on a Eurofighter Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft equipped with the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radar ahead of flight trials, BAE Systems announced on 19 July 2024.

The work was undertaken by engineers at BAE Systems’ flight testing facility in Warton, Lancashire, and supported by teams from Leonardo UK, which has developed the radar at its Edinburgh and Luton sites. The programme included electromagnetic testing in a unique anechoic chamber.

A test Typhoon aircraft, BS116, has already been prepared by the BAE Systems team at Warton for flight trials of the ECRS Mk2, which the company bills as potentially the world’s most advanced active electronically scanned-array (AESA) radar.

Group Captain Matt D’Aubyn, the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon programme director, was quoted as saying in a BAE Systems press release, “Embodiment of this prototype new radar into the test aircraft is a positive step on the continuous evolution of Typhoon’s control of the air capabilities, maintaining its sovereign freedom of action and preserving its technological advantage.”

Development of the radar, contracted by the Defence Equipment and Support organisation of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), “will support RAF operations in the most challenging situations, equipping pilots with the ability to suppress enemy air defences using high-powered jamming and engage targets whilst beyond the reach of threats”, BAE Systems stated.

The UK MoD announced in July 2022 that it would invest GBP2.35 billion (EUR 2.79 billion) in advancing the future capabilities of the Typhoon. Along with developing the ECRS Mk2, this involves work on what is known as the Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) programme: a package of upgrades designed to ensure the aircraft’s new capabilities can be fully exploited. Also covered by the GBP2.35 billion investment is the series production of 40 ECRS Mk2 radars for the RAF’s fleet of Tranche 3-standard Typhoons.

Meanwhile, it appears that the large area display (LAD) proposed for the Typhoon could possibly make it into the P4E programme.

Speaking to journalists at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford on 19 July, Andrew Mallory-Blythe, the Typhoon operational requirements manager within BAE Systems’ Air Sector, noted that, while P4E has yet to be firmed up and the LAD is not currently ‘on the list’ of proposed enhancements to be covered by it, its inclusion is now the subject of discussion.

Mallory-Blythe pointed out that equipping the Typhoon with a LAD in place of its current three multi-function displays would more fully exploit the capabilities of the ECRS Mk2 radar. He added that a LAD fit for new Typhoons would also be retrofittable to existing aircraft.

The ground-based testing of the ECRS Mk2 radar at BAE Systems’ Warton site included electromagnetic testing in a unique anechoic chamber. (Photo: BAE Systems)