ATRA radar test aircraft flies for the first time in its new guise
January 22, 2025
The DLR’s modified A320 ATRA (Advanced Technology Research Aircraft) completed its first post modification flight at Braunschweig, Germany, on 21 January 2025. Braunschweig is the main airfield of the German DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V., the German Center for Air- and Spaceflight).
Airbus was awarded a contract for the development, supply and integration of 115 Eurofighter E-SCAN Radars for the German and Spanish Eurofighter fleet in June 2020, consisting of 110 Captor-E radars for Germany and an initial batch of five radars for Spain. This marked the largest order for the Captor-E electronically scanned array radar, 28 of which had been ordered as the ECRS.Mk 0 for the Kuwaiti aircraft, and 24 for the QEAF Typhoons.
The German and Spanish aircraft will use the ECRS.Mk 1 version of the radar. In its initial ‘Step 0’ form, the new Captor-E variant is effectively an ECRS.Mk 0 radar (as fitted to Kuwaiti and Qatari Eurofighter Typhoons), and will be functionally identical, differing only in having a German-manufactured Hensoldt antenna. These radars will be upgraded to the new ECRS.Mk 1 Step 1 standard, which “significantly expands on the existing capabilities of the Mk 0,” according to manufacturer Hensoldt. The first aircraft with Step 1 fitted on the production line, rather than by retrofit or modification will be Spain’s Halcón 2 Typhoons. The Step 1 standard will feature a new Hensoldt/Indra multi-channel receiver, and new broadband TRMs. The new radar will improve the Eurofighter’s air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities and will also provide some electronic warfare functions.
The new ECRS.Mk 1 Step 0 radar is already flying in prototype form on a Spanish Typhoon Instrumented Production Aircraft, and the Step 1 radar will be flown on the ATRA large aircraft testbed.
The ATRA testbed has been in use by the DLR since 2008, but its new role required a major modification effort. Airbus E-Scan radar project manager Thomas Hirsch explained that: “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.” To achieve this, the test aircraft needs to have a corresponding front section to house the new AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar.
The new nose was developed and assembled specifically for the test aircraft by Airbus engineers from Manching. Engineers and mechanics from Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Commercial Aircraft designed a complete new front section and reinforced the A320 airframe. All modifications were carried out in accordance with the proper procedures of the type-certificate holder, Airbus Commercial Aircraft in Toulouse. In addition to integrating the new nose, the teams will next install extensive test equipment in the A320 ATRA cabin, including a customised Eurofighter avionic test rig and supporting cooling and power infrastructure.
With the first flight successfully completed, flight testing of the radar is expected to begin this year.
By testing the new radar on the ATRA, rather than on a Eurofighter, the team hope to achieve a faster result, according to Thomas Hirsch. “The A320 ATRA has a significantly shorter clearance process and can stay in the air longer than a Eurofighter.” This means that the testing time in a real-life environment, in the air, will be longer, and completion of testing will be considerably earlier, and quicker. This will significantly speed up the radar development process.
