The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded BAE Systems a £453.5 million ($612 million) contract to supply a new advanced radar for Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft.
The agreement authorizes full-rate production of the ECRS Mk2 radar following several years of development and testing, underpinned by sustained government investment. BAE Systems, working alongside Leonardo UK, will deliver 38 ECRS Mk2 radars for installation across the RAF’s Tranche 3 Typhoon fleet, with the system expected to enter operational service by the end of the decade.
The ECRS Mk2 will markedly enhance the Typhoon’s electronic warfare capabilities, allowing the aircraft to detect, classify, and track multiple air and ground targets while operating in highly contested environments.
The program is expected to support around 1,300 jobs nationwide, including approximately 400 roles at Leonardo and more than 120 positions at BAE Systems. Leonardo will design and manufacture the radar at its facilities in Edinburgh and Luton, while BAE Systems will carry out system integration at its Lancashire sites.
The Eurofighter Typhoon remains the RAF’s primary combat aircraft and a central pillar of NATO air defense across Europe, routinely conducting quick reaction alert missions to intercept unidentified aircraft near UK and allied airspace.
Originally developed for air superiority missions, the Typhoon has evolved into a fully multirole platform capable of air-to-air combat, ground strike, intelligence, surveillance, and electronic warfare. In September 2025, BAE Systems confirmed it was assessing the integration of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II laser-guided rockets as a potential counter-drone capability.
Beyond its operational role, the Typhoon program remains a key element of the UK defense industrial base, sustaining more than 20,000 jobs annually and generating over £30 billion ($40.5 billion) in export revenues to date.
