BAE Systems has secured a £454 million ($610 million) contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to manufacture advanced radars for the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft.
Under the deal, 38 European Common Radar System Mk2 (ECRS Mk2) electronically scanned radars will be produced and installed on Tranche 3 Typhoons, significantly improving the jet’s ability to track and counter airborne and surface threats. The effort falls within the UK’s £2.35 billion Typhoon upgrade program initiated in 2022.
BAE said the radar is expected to reach operational service before the end of the decade, following extensive development and testing. Leonardo will build the radar systems at its Edinburgh and Luton facilities, while BAE’s Lancashire site will handle aircraft integration work.
The company added that the award comes amid renewed momentum for the Eurofighter program, highlighted by Turkey’s reported £5.4 billion order for 20 aircraft — the consortium’s largest export deal in a generation.
Despite continued investment by Germany, Italy and Spain in new Typhoon orders, the UK has opted not to expand its own fleet. According to 2025 MoD data, the RAF operates 129 Eurofighters, with older Tranche 1 aircraft already retired.
Looking ahead, the Typhoon will eventually be replaced by the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a next-generation fighter being developed jointly by the UK, Italy and Japan.
