HENSOLDT Starts Mass Production of New Radar for Eurofighter Typhoon

HENSOLDT and Indra have completed the production of the first ECRS Mk1 radar with advanced subsystems for the processor, as well as the antenna power and control system (APSC).

HENSOLDT announced this in a press release.

ECRS Mk1 (Eurofighter Common Radar System Mark 1) is a new generation of radars for Eurofighters, which will be used by the German and Spanish air forces.

With its multi-channel AFAR antenna and high-performance processor, ECRS Mk1 will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Eurofighter across the entire range of missions. The contract for the radar was signed in 2020.

In April 2024, the German and Spanish armed forces decided to implement advanced processor and APSC subsystems in the ECRS Mk1 Step 1.

“In less than 13 months, we have completed production of the first radars with this new hardware, and the comprehensive evaluation phase is in its final stages. The new APSC and processor significantly improve the performance of Mk1 – both in terms of ultra-fast mode switching and real-time mission flexibility; as well as future autonomous operations with artificial intelligence support,” explains Dr. William Gauthier, CTO Eurofighter Radar at HENSOLDT.

The new processor structure delivers significant improvements. These include increased computing throughput, enhanced parallel processing capabilities and support for modern signal processing algorithms. These enhancements not only improve current performance, but also create a reserve for future software updates.

The first radar models will be used for comprehensive qualification and flight tests. The Mk1 Step 1 will demonstrate its effectiveness during flight tests aboard the German ATRA test aircraft.

Following the completion of the evaluation and testing in the first half of 2025, HENSOLDT and Indra plan to begin series production of the Mk1 Step 1 in the summer of 2025.

Recently, the Eurofighter company announced plans to increase production of the fourth generation Eurofighter Typhoon by attracting new export orders.

According to the plans, production should increase to 30 aircraft per year starting in 2028. This is more than double the current production volume.

“We already expect to produce 30 aircraft as soon as new export orders start coming in,” Eurofighter CEO Jorge Tamarit Degenhardt told the publication at the Paris Air Show.