On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the British company BAE Systems announced the signing of a 453.5 million contract GBP with the Ministry of Defence’s logistics agency, DE&S (Defence Equipment & Support), for the serial production of a new version of the Captor E-Scan radar featuring an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) antenna, designated ECRS Mk.2 (Common Radar System Mark 2), for Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 multirole aircraft.
Photos: BAE Systems
The contract follows a successful development and testing program, made possible by long-term UK investment, and represents a significant step forward in enhancing the capabilities of Typhoon fighters in the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first aircraft fitted with the new radar made its maiden flight on September 27, 2024.
The new radar will enhance the operational capabilities of British aircraft by improving the simultaneous detection, identification, and tracking of air and ground targets, while also providing electronic attack and high-power jamming of hostile radio-electronic signals. Complementing the new radar on the aircraft are the PIRATE passive electro-optical system and new mission computers.
The ECRS Mk.2 program has been formally underway since November 2014. The partner is the Italian headquarters of Leonardo, and the new radar systems were also intended for Eurofighter F-2000A Typhoon aircraft operated by the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare).
The first funding for radar development was awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence in early September 2020. The main contract, valued at 2.35 billion GBP, was signed on July 15, 2022.
It is anticipated that the funding will directly support 1,300 jobs across the UK industrial base related to advanced radar development and the integration of the radar with Typhoon aircraft. This includes 400 jobs at Leonardo and more than 120 at BAE Systems, primarily in Scotland and north-west England.
Richard Hamilton, Managing Director – Air Operations, BAE Systems Air, 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 noted:
“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 British Typhoon program supports more than 20,000 jobs nationwide each year, an enormous workforce that will be sustained for years to come following the largest fighter export contract in recent times, when Turkey signed an agreement in October worth approximately 5.4 billion GBP for 20 aircraft.
BAE Systems and Leonardo UK will lead the delivery of 38 ECRS Mk.2 radars, which will be integrated across the entire Tranche 3 fleet. The ECRS Mk.2 is scheduled to enter service with the RAF toward the end of the current decade. The radar is being developed and manufactured by Leonardo in Edinburgh and Luton, and integrated into Typhoon aircraft by BAE Systems in Lancashire.
The Typhoon program delivers significant economic benefits and is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most successful defense export programs, contributing annual export revenues of around 1.4 billion GBP. To date, export sales have generated more than 30 billion GBP for the British economy – over twice the 12 billion GBP invested.
We are proud to announce we have been awarded a £453.5m contract by the UK @DefenceHQ to equip future @RoyalAirForce pilots with our advanced radar technology, delivering critical electronic warfare advantage, enhancing pilots' ability to detect, identify and track multiple… pic.twitter.com/usSuvPuog9
— BAE Systems (@BAESystemsplc) January 22, 2026
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— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 22, 2026
