HENSOLDT has been awarded a contract extension for the Eurofighter Mk1 radar worth approximately euros 350 million. Following approval by the German and Spanish ministries of defence, further development tasks were commissioned by Airbus Defence and Space.

The ECRS Mk1 project (Eurofighter Common Radar System Mark 1) is the next-generation Eurofighter radar that is to be fielded by the air forces of Germany and Spain. This E-Scan radar will enhance the capabilities of the Eurofighter, which Airbus produces for the German and Spanish air forces, in air-to-air and air-to-ground operations and also equip it with electronic warfare capabilities. The radar was developed by a consortium consisting of the German HENSOLDT Sensors GmbH and the Spanish Indra Sistemas S.A. Together with Airbus Defence and Space, the companies form the industrial structure that develops, certifies and manufactures the state-of-the-art military technology.

The contract extension includes the delivery of test systems for the German radar test aircraft Airbus A320 D-ATRA as well as revisions to the Mk1 Step 1 radar system. The further development of the devices represents a technological leap forward in order to bring the operational capabilities of the weapon system to bear with this E-Scan radar in a future-oriented manner. The order ensures the future and expandability and thus the operational effectiveness of the Mk1 Step 1 radar and future steps. The scope of services also includes an initial development phase for ECRS Mk1 Step 2. The associated e-scan radar capability with the task-based management of the Airbus Defence and Space attack & identify system will significantly reduce the workload of pilots in the Eurofighter cockpit and further increase operational effectiveness.

“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 head of Eurofighter Radar, Frank Döngi.