British Typhoons to be Equipped with New Leonardo-manufactured Radar

The U.K. Royal Air Force is upgrading its Typhoon FGR Mk4 fleet with new Leonardo UK-manufactured radar systems under a £453 million contract aimed at improving detection, identification and tracking of potential threats.

Leonardo will produce 40 European Common Radar System Mk2 radars at its Edinburgh facility, including 38 new units and upgrades to two test systems. The radars will be fitted to RAF Typhoons, which form the backbone of the U.K.’s combat air fleet.

The Ministry of Defence said the new radar will allow Typhoons to track airborne and ground-based emitters while operating passively, without emitting detectable signals. This is intended to allow aircraft to remain effective in high-threat environments and to detect, identify and track multiple targets at the same time.

The current Typhoon radar already supports air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, including electronic warfare and the suppression of enemy air defences. The ECRS Mk2 is expected to expand these capabilities as the aircraft continues its evolution from a primarily air-to-air fighter into a multi-role platform.

Defence Secretary John Healey said, “As the threats we face increase, and as Russian drones continue to strike Ukraine and violate NATO airspace, this radar capability will keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad for many years to come.”

BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt will carry out the integration work over the coming years. The Typhoon FGR Mk4 is deployed across a range of missions, including air policing, peacekeeping and high-intensity combat, and supports Quick Reaction Alert duties in the U.K. and the Falkland Islands.

RAF Typhoons have been used in operations over Libya, Iraq and Syria, as well as NATO air policing missions in the Baltic region and Romania. The radar investment follows a separate £205 million contract awarded to QinetiQ for long-term engineering support to sustain the fleet and support future upgrades.