MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands: quick reaction Typhoons to upgrade state of the art radar system

A display of Typhoons over the Islands

The RAF's fleet of Typhoon FGR Mk4s is being upgraded with new state-of-the-art radar systems to help the jets better detect and identify potential enemy aircraft. Typhoons play a key role in UK’s Quick Reaction Alert missions including in the Falkland Islands, as reported by Forces.net.

The new radars, which are being manufactured under a £453m contract at Leonardo UK's site in Edinburgh, aim to improve on the capability already provided by the existing European Common Radar System Mk2.

Forty advanced ECRS Mk2 radars will be fitted to RAF Typhoons, including 38 new systems and modifications to two test systems.

The current system is already quite potent, being capable of locating, identifying and suppressing enemy air defenses, providing advanced electronic warfare capabilities.

The RAF points out how the radar's ability to track both airborne and ground-based emitters without discharging a signal itself is a significant advancement over previous versions.

This capability allows Typhoons to remain operational and effective in high-threat environments, ensuring they can detect, identify and track multiple targets simultaneously.

Defence Secretary John Healey said of the new radar: “Our Typhoon fleet is the backbone of UK and NATO air defense, operated across Europe by the Royal Air Force and our allies to protect our skies and security.

”As the threats we face increase, and as Russian drones continue to strike Ukraine and violate NATO airspace, this cutting-edge radar capability will keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad for many years to come.”

Under the new contract, BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt will equip the RAF's Typhoons with the new radar systems over the coming years.

The Typhoon F Mk2 was originally introduced for air-to-air combat, but has evolved into the FGR Mk4 – a highly capable and agile fourth-generation combat aircraft. It can be deployed in a wide range of air operations, including air policing, peacekeeping and high-intensity conflict.

The Typhoon has been used efficiently in various missions, such as Operation Ellamy in Libya, Operation Shader in Iraq and Syria, Operation Azotize for Baltic Air Policing and Operation Biloxi for Southern Air Policing in Romania.

The Mount Pleasant Complex station was opened in 1985 to establish a fighter and transport presence in the Falkland Islands. Currently base in MPC are No 1435 Flight with 4 Typhoon FGR4, No 1312 Flight, with a Voyager tanker and an Atlas C1 (A400M).