The Leonardo European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) radar seen next to the Eurofighter test aircraft ZK355/BS116. The combination is expected to fly for the first time towards the end of 2023. (BAE Systems)
The United Kingdom is planning to fly the Leonardo European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) radar aboard a Eurofighter test aircraft in late 2023, with initial operating capability (IOC) slated for 2030, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson said on 24 May.
Speaking to Janes and other defence media at BAE Systems' Warton site, the representative from Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Capability, who declined to be identified, said that the schedule planned for the first flight has yet to be fully determined, but that he expects it to occur “towards the back end of 2023”.
According to the representative, the radar will be fitted aboard the Eurofighter test aircraft ZK355/BS116 before the end of 2022, while work is continuing to develop the cockpit iterations that will enable a common display of both the Captor M-Scan (sometimes called Captor-M) radar data for the Tranche 2 Typhoons that will retain that system, and for the E-Scan (sometimes called Captor-E) data for the Tranche 3 Typhoons that will be upgraded.
“We have taken what we learned with the M-Scan and applied it to the E-Scan. I cannot stress enough how significant of a capability leap this [new E-Scan radar] is going to be for the UK,” the MoD representative said, adding, “We can do amazing things with the M-Scan, but we might reach the architectural limits of that system because of decisions made years ago. With the E-Scan, whatever the enemy does [in terms of developing its combat aviation capabilities], we can take a step to counter that.”
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