BAE Systems wins £453m to deliver advanced new radar for RAF Typhoons with the help of Lancs workers
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth £453.5 million for the full production of a new advanced radar for UK Typhoon aircraft.
The radars which will be produced as part of this contract will be manufactured by Leonardo UK at its facility in Edinburgh, Scotland, but a team of around 120 engineers from BAE Systems based primarily at the facility in Warton, Lancashire, will work to integrate the radars in to the UK Typhoon aircraft.
The contract follows a successful programme of development and testing, enabled through long-term UK investment, and marks a major step forward in the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon capability.
The state-of-the-art radar, known as the ECRS Mk2, will deliver enhanced electronic warfare capability, allowing the aircraft to detect, identify and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground.
Richard Hamilton, Managing Director – Europe & International, BAE Systems’ Air sector, said: “The Typhoon programme is a fundamental pillar of the UK’s national defence and security.
“Operating at the heart of NATO operations, Typhoon aircraft provide air policing along Europe’s eastern flank.
“The continued investment in Typhoon capability is crucial and ensures we’re able to maximise the UK’s investment in the aircraft and accelerate combat air technologies critical for defence capabilities.”
John Healey, Secretary of State for Defence, added: “Our Typhoon fleet is the backbone of UK and NATO air defence, operated across Europe by the Royal Air Force and our allies to protect our skies and security.
“As the threats we face increase, and as Russian drones continue to strike Ukraine and violate NATO airspace, this cutting-edge radar capability will keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad for many years to come.”
The UK's Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs throughout the country each year – a massive workforce which will be sustained for years to come following the biggest fighter jet exports deal in a generation, as Türkiye signed a deal in October c.£5.4 billion for 20 jets.
BAE Systems and Leonardo UK will lead the delivery of 38 ECRS Mk2 radars which will be integrated on to the full fleet of Tranche 3 standard jets. ECRS Mk2 is due to enter service with the RAF by the end of the decade.
The radar is developed and manufactured by Leonardo in Edinburgh and Luton and integrated onto the Typhoon aircraft by BAE Systems in Lancashire.
The Typhoon programme delivers significant economic benefit is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most successful defence export programmes contributing £1.4bn in exports annually.
To date export sales have already delivered in excess of £30bn of value to the UK economy, more than double the £12bn invested.
There has already been a significant amount of work which has taken place in Lancashire to get the programme to a stage where a full production contract has been awarded.
This has included a significant testing programme, including flight testing using a fleet of test-and-evaluation aircraft which are based at Warton, and ground-based testing in some unique testing facilities we have on site.