The Advanced Technology Research Aircraft is equipped with the nose of a Eurofighter to test the new E-Scan Mk1 AESA radar, also known as European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk1.
Airbus announced that, on Jan. 21, 2025, the A320 ATRA (Advanced Technology Research Aircraft) flew for the first time from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Braunschweig, Germany, after the recent modification works. The aircraft has been modified to support the testing of the new E-Scan Mk1 AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, also known as ECRS (European Common Radar System) Mk1.
The flying test bed
DLR says that the A320 D-ATRA is the largest member of its research aircraft fleet and has been used by the DLR since 2008, for aviation technology including safety concepts, cabin comfort, aerodynamics, avionics, engines and airframe behavior.
To perform this new task, the A320 ATRA is now equipped with the nose of a Eurofighter jet that Airbus engineers from Manching developed and assembled specifically for the test aircraft. The first images of the new radome installed on the aircraft emerged in December 2024.
“We are operating the aircraft in close collaboration with the DLR and the German Armed Forces to test a new radar for the Eurofighter and bring it to maturity,” explained Airbus E-Scan radar project manager Thomas Hirsch. He previously mentioned the ATRA will allow “to rigorously evaluate this cutting-edge technology in real-world conditions.”
The company explained that engineers and mechanics from both Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Commercial Aircraft divisions worked together to ensure that the A320 ATRA can safely accommodate its new nose. All modifications, which include a complete new front section and reinforcement to the airframe, were carried out in accordance with the proper procedures of the type-certification holder, says Airbus.
The work, however, is not yet complete and the aircraft will later receive extensive test equipment in its cabin, including a customized Eurofighter avionic test rig and supporting cooling and power infrastructure requirements.
E-Scan testing under real conditions
Airbus said in its press release that testing of the new radar on the A320 ATRA will begin this year, providing insights on why the aircraft is being used as testbed instead of a Eurofighter Typhoon. “The A320 ATRA has a significantly shorter clearance process and can stay in the air longer than a Eurofighter,” explained Hirsch.
Thanks to this, the company says testing in the air, the real environment as opposed to a laboratory’s test rig, “is considerably earlier, quicker and with a longer duration on an A320,” allowing to “significantly speed up the radar development process.” In the meanwhile, a Spanish Eurofighter is already flying with the ECRS Mk1, with the first flight performed in December 2024.
Upon completion of the test campaign, the new radar will be integrated into the latest generation Eurofighters of Spain’s ‘Halcón I’ and Germany’s ‘Quadriga’ orders. Airbus says the radar will improve the Eurofighter’s capabilities in air-to-air and air-to-ground operations and also equip it with electronic warfare functions.
The ECRS E-Scan Radar
The Typhoons are planned to receive new AESA radars to replace the older mechanical Captor-M radars. Called European Common Radar System (ECRS) or the E-Scan AESA radar, the new system has three variants: ECRS Mk.0, which currently equips the aircraft of Kuwait and Qatar; ECRS Mk.1, planned to equip the Typhoons from Germany and Spain; and ECRS Mk.2, which will also have an electronic warfare and electronic attack capacity, currently being developed for the United Kingdom.
The development of the new radar was launched in 2014, when Defense Ministers from the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain signed a €1 billion contract to give birth to what, at the time, was simply called Captor-E.
According to Leonardo’s and Eurofighter’s websites, the new AESA radar is based on a repositionable array that can be swiveled to cover up to 90° of azimuth, or even more at close range. The radar will feature improved range, detection and tracking over its mechanical predecessor, with the capability to operate simultaneously in both air-to-air and air-to-ground modes.
According to BAE Systems, which is working on the ECRS Mk.2 with Leonardo, the E-Scan radar is “more responsive, more agile, and with a greater capability” compared to the mechanically steered M-Scan radar. The E-Scan uses over 1,000 modules that are steered electronically, and the array can reposition itself within a millisecond.
Some of the features of the E-Scan include a greater field of regard, more radar power and automated multi-mode operation. Increased detection range and automated functions will also reduce pilot workload, while increasing situational awareness as well – a key factor in modern air combat.
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The ECRS Mk 1 is being developed by Spain’s Indra and Germany’s Hensoldt which, according to Janes, created a new digital multichannel receiver to transform the baseline ECRS Mk 0 into the ECRS Mk 1. The radar is currently scheduled to be delivered by mid-decade, with serial production split between Germany and Spain.
A major part of the design of the Mk 1 will derive from Hensoldt’s experience as one of the world’s leading radar manufacturers, as well as its involvement in both the mechanically scanned Captor-M radar and the AESA Captor-E for the Typhoon. Hensoldt already provides antenna, receiver, and processor components as well as other electronics for the Captor-E.
‘Halcón’ and ‘Quadriga’
The German parliament approved the acquisition of 38 new Eurofighter on Nov. 5, 2020, with the new jets planned to replace on a one-to-one basis the older Tranche 1 jets, the first delivered to the Luftwaffe, as part of Project Quadriga. Germany only received its last Tranche 3 aircraft in 2019, completing the deliveries of the original order.
Earlier in 2019, the government launched Project Quadriga to replace the older jets to obtain a common configuration across the fleet. The Tranche 1 jets, in fact, would need costly upgrades to switch to the mainly air superiority configuration, with basic air to ground capability, to the full swing-role configuration. The new aircraft, also referred to as Tranche 4, are expected to be divided into 31 single-seat and 7 two-seats aircraft.
On Jun. 23, 2022, Eurofighter, NETMA (NATO EF2000 and Tornado Development, Production and Logistics Management Agency) and Eurojet signed the Halcón (Hawk) contract that to support the continued modernization of the Spanish Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. As part of the Halcon program, Spain will acquire 20 latest generation Eurofighter jets, consisting of 16 single-seaters and 4 twin-seaters, along with 48 new EJ200 engines.
The new aircraft will be used to equip a third base with Eurofighter jets, Gando, on the Canary Islands, which is home to the Ala 46. The local-based Ala 46/Esc. 462 currently flies the legacy EF-18M Hornets, which were delivered between 1995 and 2000 from surplus U.S. Navy Hornet stocks and later upgraded.
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on June 5, 2024, that Germany will order 20 more Eurofighter Typhoon fighters by the end of 2025. Shortly after this announcement, Eurofighter and NETMA agreed to develop the next capability enhancement package for the Eurofighter Typhoon, called Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E).
Eurofighter says the P4E SD (System Definition) package contains a number of new developments, including an automated sensor management capability for all Typhoon radars. This will allow to exploit the capabilities of the new AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar to complete multiple simultaneous tasks, while reducing the pilot workload.
On Dec. 20, 2024, the Spanish government has finalized a deal to purchase 25 Eurofighter jets as part of the Halcon II program. This new order includes 21 single-seat and four twin-seat aircraft, which will replace the EF-18M Hornets of Ala 12 and Ala 15, based at Torrejon and Zaragoza, respectively.
