Hensoldt has received an extension of its contract for the Eurofighter Mk1 radar, valued at around EUR 350 million. This extension comes after the German and Spanish Ministries of Defence granted their approval, leading to the commissioning of additional development tasks by Airbus Defence and Space.
The ECRS Mk1 project, known as the Eurofighter Common Radar System Mark 1, represents the advanced radar system intended for deployment by the air forces of Germany and Spain. This E-Scan radar is designed to significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Eurofighter, which is manufactured by Airbus for these air forces, in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, while also incorporating electronic warfare functionalities.
The development of this radar is a collaborative effort between Hensoldt Sensors GmbH from Germany and Indra Sistemas S.A. from Spain. Together with Airbus Defence and Space, these companies constitute the industrial framework responsible for the development, certification, and production of this cutting-edge military technology. The recent contract extension encompasses the provision of testing systems for the German radar test aircraft, Airbus A320 D-ATRA, along with updates to the Mk1 Step 1 radar system.
The ongoing advancement of these systems signifies a substantial technological progression aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the weapon system through the implementation of this E-Scan radar in a forward-looking manner. This order not only secures the future and scalability of the Mk1 Step 1 radar but also bolsters its operational effectiveness for subsequent phases. Additionally, the service scope includes an initial development phase for ECRS Mk1 Step 2.
The integration of the associated e-scan radar capability, in conjunction with the task-oriented management of the Airbus Defence and Space Attack & Identify system, is expected to considerably alleviate the workload of pilots in the Eurofighter cockpit, thereby further enhancing operational efficiency.
“The contract extension ensures the development of an air-certifiable, robust Eurofighter Mk1 radar for Germany and Spain. Our goal is to start flight testing of the revised radar at the end of 2025. Installation of the Mk1 Step 1 on the German Quadriga Eurofighters is then scheduled to begin in the course of 2027,” says Frank Döngi, Head of Eurofighter Radar.
