21 April 2023

Leonardo delivers first ECRS Mk 2 radar for RAF to BAE Systems for integration

by Gareth Jennings

The Leonardo ECRS Mk 2 radar seen next to the Eurofighter test aircraft ZK355/BS116. The combination is expected to fly for the first time in 2024. (BAE Systems)

Leonardo has delivered the first European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk 2) to be integrated aboard the UK Royal Air Force's (RAF's) fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft.

Announced on 21 April, the milestone saw the handover of the first ECRS Mk 2 to BAE Systems, which will integrate the unit onto Eurofighter test aircraft ZK355/BS116 ahead of the first flight planned for 2024.

“The radar will now undergo integration work and ground-based testing in preparation for its first flight tests onboard the Eurofighter Typhoon next year. This will take place at BAE Systems' flight-testing facility in Lancashire,” Leonardo said.

Speaking to Janes and other defence media at BAE Systems' Warton site in May 2022, a representative from RAF Air Capability, who declined to be identified, said that work is continuing on developing the cockpit iterations that will enable a common display of both the Captor M-Scan (sometimes called Captor-M) radar data for the 67 Tranche 2 Typhoons that will retain this system, and for the E-Scan (sometimes called Captor-E) data for the 40 Tranche 3 Typhoons that will be upgraded.

Leonardo has delivered the first European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk 2) to be integrated ab...

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