Italian defense and aerospace company Leonardo has signed a contract with Germany’s Hensoldt to develop new radar kits for German and Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
The company, which already leads the development and delivery of the Typhoon’s European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk0, will now contribute to the research and development of the Mk1 E-scan radar in a contract worth 260 million euros ($296 million).
It will also develop the core parts of the radar’s antenna, processor, and Antenna Power Supply & Control.
“Hensoldt has contracted Leonardo to perform development work on wideband capabilities that will exploit these new receiver and transmit receive modules to boost the ECRS Mk1’s detection range and accuracy,” the firm said in a statement.
“Leonardo will deliver modules for the ECRS Mk1 from its sites in Nerviano, Edinburgh, Campi Bisenzio and Palermo,” it added.
🔴#PressRelease #Leonardo has signed over €260M of contracts with @hensoldt which will see the company playing a key role in the development & delivery of the @eurofighter’s ECRS Mk1 E-scan #radar ordered by #Germany & #Spain https://t.co/wY7mLRlRJd pic.twitter.com/qGWADE7iBJ
— Leonardo Electronics (@LDO_Electronics) January 14, 2022
Improved Radar Capabilities
The ECRS Mk1 radar will have a digital multi-channel receiver and new wideband transmit-receive modules, which enhances the capability of the earlier Mk0 radar system.
It builds on components of the CAPTOR-E radar system but has different operational capabilities and core elements, offering improved target recognition and detection.
The Mk1 radar system has more electronic support measures and electronic warfare capabilities than the CAPTOR-E. It also has target recognition through STRAP processing and ultra-high-resolution imaging synthetic aperture radar.
ECRS Mk1 Production
ECRS Mk1 radar production is scheduled to begin in 2025, with the deal covering the retrofitting of 130 Eurofighter radars.
Hensoldt will have the radar design authority and lead the project, while the German-based aerospace company Airbus Defence and Space will integrate the radar onto the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Earlier in September, Leonardo undertook the development of an e-scan radar system for the UK’s fleet of Typhoon jets with British aerospace company BAE Systems as the lead integrator. The contract covered retrofitting the radars on more than 40 Royal Air Force Tranche 3 Typhoons.
