Eurofighter Typhoon will benefit from secure Cloud and ECRS Mk2 radar developments by Leonardo

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TWO major developments which will boost the future capability of the RAF's Typhoon aircraft – RAF Lossiemouth is home to four frontline squadrons of the fighter jet – have been achieved by defence company Leonardo.

The Edinburgh-based firm has moved to the secure Cloud technology – enabling it to get high-tech new equipment into the hands of the UK Armed Forces and its allies faster.

And it has also delivered a prototype European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 to BAE Systems which could see the system come into service with the RAF by the end of the decade.

Leonardo is developing the ECRS Mk2 in Edinburgh, the UK’s home of combat air radar, and Luton, where the company conducts advanced electronic warfare research, development and production.

The radar will now undergo integration work and ground-based testing in preparation for its first

flight tests on-board the Eurofighter Typhoon next year. This will take place at BAE Systems’

flight testing facility in Lancashire.

The ECRS Mk2 features an innovative multi-functional array (MFA) that can perform both

traditional radar functions such as search and targeting, as well as electronic warfare tasks. This

means that Eurofighter Typhoon will be able to locate and deny use of an adversary’s radar with

a powerful electronic jamming attack, whilst staying beyond the reach of threats.

Mark Stead, SVP Radar and Advanced Targeting, Leonardo UK, said: “This delivery marks the

next major step towards securing Typhoon’s place in the future battlespace, ensuring that the UK

retains the freedom to deliver air power wherever and whenever it is needed.

“The ECRS Mk2 will equip RAF pilots with the ability to locate, identify and suppress enemy air

defences.”

Richard Hamilton, Typhoon Programme Director, Europe – BAE Systems Air, said: “The

ECRS Mk2 radar is one of a number of key capabilities which we are integrating to secure

Typhoon’s as the backbone of air defence across the globe for decades to come.

Lyndon Hoyle, Head of the Typhoon Delivery Team at Defence Equipment and Support, the procurement arm of the UK Ministry of Defence, said: “Delivery of the prototype

radar to Warton is the latest key milestone in this exciting programme."

The overall Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 highly-skilled jobs across the UK.

The work developing the ECRS Mk2 is securing 600 roles, including more than 300 at Leonardo's site in Edinburgh, 100 in Luton and 120 at BAE Systems in Lancashire.

With the new radar and a wider package of enhancements for Typhoon being funded by the MOD, the combined programme is expected to sustain up to 1300 jobs in the UK.

Leonardo has adoped a cloud-based Azure platform across its UK business. In collaboration with Microsoft and Accenture, the secure cloud will make it possible for Leonardo to use rapid cloud computing techniques for design, data storage and resources, with encryption offering an extra layer of security.

Gareth Hetheridge, Director Digital and IT, Leonardo UK said: “Unfolding global conflicts

have created an urgent requirement for the defence industry to fast track design and delivery to

tight timescales."

While the cloud has become increasingly prevalent over the last few years in other sectors,

security concerns have previously prevented the UK’s defence industry from fully benefitting from its technology.

Aaron Neil, Director Defence and Secure Markets, Microsoft UK, said: “Over the last year we

have worked with Leonardo UK to better understand its digital transformation aspirations and

priorities.

And Louisa Hainsworth, Managing Director, Accenture’s Microsoft Business Group Lead in

UKI, said: “We are helping Leonardo break barriers in the defence industry with the benefits of a

cloud-first environment."

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