20 November 2014 Royal Air Force

The £800m contract for the development of a new electronic radar system for the Eurofighter Typhoon has been signed in Scotland

The Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar capability contract was awarded to Eurofighter Jadgflugzeug GmbH by NETMA – the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency - on behalf of the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy.

The radar will further improve the Eurofighter Typhoon's combat effectiveness. Alongside recent announcements for weapon capability upgrades, the contract demonstrates the partners’ commitment to maintain the aircraft’s status as a world class multi role combat aircraft.

As well as sustaining UK jobs, the contract also represents a significant step in delivering advanced radar technology required by the Royal Air Force.

Meeting with his European counterparts in Edinburgh, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne said:

"This contract marks a major milestone in the development of the Typhoon programme and offers a significant increase in the capability of the aircraft. The development of this AESA radar is a significant step in delivering technology that will ensure the Royal Air Force is equipped to meet the evolving demands of operations.

Following recent announcements on weapon capability enhancements, notably the integration of Storm Shadow, this contract is a further demonstration of our continued commitment to the Typhoon aircraft.

The contract also represents another significant investment in the defence industry in Scotland, sustaining around 500 jobs at Selex ES in Edinburgh."

The introduction of an AESA radar is designed to give the Eurofighter greater vision than its competitors through simultaneous multirole air-to-air and air-to-ground tracking of targets with increased fidelity and range.

The contract marks the culmination of considerable investment by the partner nations and industry in developing the technology required to provide Eurofighter-Typhoon with cutting edge sensor capability.