HENSOLDT and Indra have started live operational testing of the new Eurofighter Common Radar System Mark 1 (ECRS Mk1) for German and Spanish Eurofighter combat aircraft, marking a key step toward planned flight trials next year.
The new phase of development sees the system moving beyond laboratory and ground-based evaluations to testing against live and cooperative targets in realistic operating conditions.
Initial testing has demonstrated improvements in robustness and operational performance, the companies said. The results also validated enhancements incorporated into the radar’s subsystems following decisions made by German and Spanish customers in 2024.
ECRS Mk1 is an active electronically scanned array radar designed to replace older mechanically scanned systems on German and Spanish Eurofighters. The radar is intended to improve air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities while adding advanced electronic warfare functions.
According to the firms, the radar is now equipped with its full hardware suite and the most advanced software version developed so far. The program was contracted in 2020, with deliveries to Germany and Spain expected to begin in 2027.
Eurofighter Fleets Receive New Capabilities
The radar testing milestone follows a series of Eurofighter modernization efforts over the past year.
In February, the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency signed a contract to develop, test, and certify an Aerodynamic Modification Kit for the Eurofighter Typhoon, aimed at speeding up the integration of new weapons and external stores and improving overall combat effectiveness.
Earlier, in November 2025, Airbus awarded Saab two contracts worth 549 million euros ($636 million) to equip Germany’s Eurofighter fleet with the Arexis electronic warfare sensor suite.
In September 2025, BAE Systems also said it was exploring integration of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II laser-guided rockets on the Typhoon as a lower-cost option for counter-drone missions.
