Added: 19th February 2024 by Leonardo
The next generation radar which will be used by RAF Typhoon pilots of the future has been fitted to an aircraft ahead of flight trials.
The European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mark 2 radar is being developed by Leonardo and integrated onto Typhoon by BAE Systems. It features an innovative multi-functional array (MFA) that can perform both traditional radar functions such as search and targeting, as well as electronic warfare tasks.
A prototype of the radar has been undergoing ground-based testing in a unique test facility at BAE Systems’ site in Warton, Lancashire in recent months before being fitted on to BS116, a UK test and evaluation aircraft, by BAE Systems and Leonardo UK engineers.
Ross Wilson, VP Engineering, Radar and Advanced Targeting, Leonardo UK, said: “In parallel with the integration work on the Prototype system as it approaches flight testing, the ECRS Mk2 production design has also been progressing apace.
“The radar’s Processor, Receiver, and Antenna Power Supply & Control units have all been re-engineered to further enhance the capacity, capability, and performance of the Mk2 system in alignment with the new antenna and electronic warfare capability. These production designs have all passed their critical design review phases, keeping the production programme on schedule.”
Andy Holden, Radar Delivery Director, BAE Systems’ Air sector, said: “Equipping the aircraft with this prototype radar moves us a step closer to delivering new capability which ensures Typhoon’s role as the backbone of combat air defence for decades to come.
“We expect that this year we will be flight testing the radar which will allow us to validate the results of ground-based testing we have undertaken at our Integrated Test Facility (ITF), the only facility of its kind on the UK.
“The ITF testing allowed us to ‘fly’ the radar for hundreds of hours without the need to put a jet in the air, ensuring our flight test programme is as efficient as possible and delivers what our customer needs.”
The radar will now undergo further integration work inside the Typhoon final assembly hangar at Warton with plans to flight test it this year.
