EUROPEAN COMMON RADAR SYSTEM MK 2

Military Capability

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: £2.9bn
Published schedule: 01/02/2019 – 31/12/2034
NISTA delivery confidence: Not disclosed
Senior responsible owner: Nicholas Lowe

What the project is for

The Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) to the Typhoon aircraft includes upgrades to mission management systems, GPS resilience and navigational precision. It also provides the vehicle for the integration of the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 onto the aircraft. The radar is being developed to enable the aircraft to simultaneously detect, identify and track various targets on land and in the air and is vital to maintain Typhoon’s control of the air. It also provides a new Electronic Warfare capability and sustains Typhoon capability to operate in contested and congested Electromagnetic environments. The programme is being delivered via multiple interdependent contracts. Radar development is being led nationally by the UK, whereas the wider P4E changes to the aircraft systems are being developed with the other Typhoon Partner Nations as part of the international Eurofighter Programme.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. The overall radar design schedule has stabilised and has successfully moved into the manufacture phase with confidence growing on production radars being available in 2028 as planned. However, securing an acceptable delivery schedule for P4E from Eurofighter through the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA), which is essential to embodying the radar, remains a significant challenge for the UK and Partner Nations. 2. Whilst P4E content has been agreed, Partner Nations are working continually with NETMA and Eurofighter to establish a progressive release of capability which meets each nation's operational need without being detrimental to delivery of the overall programme, alongside extensive transformation being pursued within the NETMA and Eurofighter enterprises.

Schedule

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the programme's end-date at 25/26-Q4 remained the same at 01/08/2032.

Cost

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Whole Life Cost at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) increased from £2902M to £2930M. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Minimal cost growth, principally down to increased Typhoon Defensive Aids Sub-System scope/requirements within P4E. 2. The Programme remains within its Approved Budgetary Level.

Benefits

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Benefits at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) remained at 0. This is primarily due to the following factors. No monetised benefits.