The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded BAE Systems a 453.5-million-pound ($612-million) contract to deliver a new advanced radar for Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets.
The contract covers full production of the ECRS Mk2 radar, following a multi-year development and testing phase supported by long-term government investment.
BAE Systems and Leonardo UK are set to deliver 38 ECRS Mk2 radars, all of which will be fitted to the RAF’s Tranche 3 Typhoon fleet. The upgraded radar is scheduled to enter service by the end of the decade.
Once fielded, the radar will significantly enhance the Typhoon’s electronic warfare capability, enabling the aircraft to detect, identify, and track multiple air and ground targets in contested environments.
Work on the program will support around 1,300 jobs across the UK, including approximately 400 positions at Leonardo and more than 120 roles at BAE Systems.
Leonardo will develop and manufacture the radar at its sites in Edinburgh and Luton, while BAE Systems will integrate the system onto Typhoon aircraft at its Lancashire facilities.
The UK Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is the RAF’s primary air combat aircraft and a key contributor to NATO air defense missions across Europe. Operated on quick reaction alert duties, the jet regularly intercepts unidentified aircraft approaching UK and allied airspace.
Originally designed as an air superiority fighter, the Typhoon has been progressively upgraded into a multirole platform capable of air-to-air combat, ground attack, intelligence gathering, and electronic warfare.
In September 2025, BAE announced that it is looking into the possible installation of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II laser-guided rockets as a counter-drone option for the aircraft.
Beyond its military role, the Typhoon program is a cornerstone of the UK’s defense industrial base. It supports more than 20,000 jobs annually and has generated over 30 billion pounds ($40.5 billion) in export sales to date.
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