DefenseUK approves funding to equip RAF Typhoons with ECRS Mk2 radar
The UK government has approved more than £650 million in funding to upgrade the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, including the integration of the advanced European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2).
The core element of the package is a £453 million contract awarded to UK industry for the manufacture of new radar systems. Under the plan, 40 RAF Typhoons will be equipped with the ECRS Mk2, comprising 38 new production radars and modifications to two existing test systems.
The ECRS Mk2 is an electronically scanned array radar designed to provide Typhoon with enhanced detection, tracking and electronic warfare capabilities. In addition to conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface functions, the radar incorporates high-powered electronic attack features, allowing aircraft to jam and suppress enemy air defences while operating in contested environments.
The new radar is part of the Typhoon Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) programme, a broader upgrade package intended to keep the aircraft operationally relevant into at least the 2040s. UK Typhoons currently form the backbone of national and NATO air defence missions, including air policing duties in Europe.
Alongside the radar contract, the government also confirmed a separate £205 million agreement with QinetiQ for long-term engineering and technical support for the Typhoon fleet. That contract is intended to sustain weapon system upgrades and ensure continued airworthiness over the coming years.
Development of the ECRS Mk2 has been underway for several years. In September 2024, a prototype radar was flown on a UK Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft at BAE Systems’ flight test facility in Lancashire, marking a key milestone in the programme.
The principal industrial partners involved in the radar effort are BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt. While the government highlighted employment impacts linked to the contracts, officials stressed that the primary objective of the investment is to deliver enhanced combat capability and electronic warfare performance for the RAF’s Typhoon force.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the upgrades would not alter the regional military balance but are intended to maintain operational advantage as air defence and electronic warfare threats continue to evolve.
About the Author
Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
