RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fleet set for ECRS Mk2 radar upgrade under QinetiQ deal
January 20, 2026
British defence engineering company QinetiQ has been awarded a five-year, £205 million ($276 million) contract extension to continue providing mission-critical engineering and technical support for the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft fleet.
Awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence, the extension ensures the RAF’s primary fighter force remains safe, airworthy, and operationally effective as Typhoon continues to protect UK airspace, reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, and support combat operations overseas.
The deal underpins the engineering backbone of a fleet that operates at sustained supersonic speeds, carries out round-the-clock quick reaction alert (QRA) duties, and remains central to Britain’s air defence posture.
ECRS Mk2 radar upgrade central to RAF Typhoon’s future relevance
A key element of the extension is support for the delivery and integration of the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 on the RAF’s Tranche 3 Typhoons.
The advanced active electronically scanned array radar will allow the aircraft to simultaneously detect, identify, and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground, significantly enhancing Typhoon’s effectiveness in high-threat environments.
For the RAF, ECRS Mk2 represents a cornerstone upgrade, keeping Typhoon operationally relevant as it bridges current frontline missions and the transition towards next-generation combat air capabilities.
“The extension of this contract underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the Typhoon fighter jet remains at the forefront of operational capability, safety, and technical excellence,” said Air Commodore Nick Lowe, RAF Head of Capability Delivery Combat Air and Typhoon Senior Responsible Officer.
RAF Typhoon remains the backbone of UK air defence
Typhoon remains the RAF’s principal combat aircraft, providing continuous air policing over the UK and deploying globally in support of allied operations. The aircraft has recently supported NATO missions in Eastern Europe under Operation Eastern Sentry and conducted strike operations against Daesh targets in the Middle East.
“Our Typhoon fighter fleet is the backbone of Britain’s air defence and keeps our nation secure at home and strong abroad,” said Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry. “Deploying across the world in support of our allies, it is crucial in how we keep Britain secure.”
The five-year extension provides continuity of specialist engineering, safety, and airworthiness expertise required to sustain the fleet amid rising operational demand and an increasingly contested security environment.
QinetiQ engineering support sustains RAF Typhoon frontline operations
The contract extends the Engineering Delivery Partnership (EDP) between the MOD and the QinetiQ-led Aurora consortium, which delivers high-value technical and engineering services across critical defence programmes.
Under the agreement, QinetiQ will continue to provide rapid engineering responses to emergent operational issues, ensure regulatory compliance, and support ongoing capability enhancements essential for maintaining frontline availability.
“This contract ensures our Typhoon fleet continues to receive the expert engineering support it needs to remain ready for missions,” said Lyndon Hoyle, Typhoon Team Leader at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). “Their work is essential to keeping these aircraft safe and capable, whether protecting UK airspace or supporting operations worldwide alongside our allies.”
Digital engineering and AI tools to boost RAF Typhoon readiness
QinetiQ said the contract will also support expanded use of digital engineering and artificial intelligence-enabled tools to reduce the time and cost required to return aircraft to service, while maintaining frontline capability.
“Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, we are investing in cutting-edge technology that increases our productivity and elevates our vital expertise,” said Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer at QinetiQ. “This means we can get mission-critical capability into the hands of our warfighters at pace and reduced cost.”
The work will be delivered through the strengthened Aurora EDP, which includes Atkins, BMT, Frazer-Nash, and KBR, alongside more than 380 companies supporting UK defence programmes.
QinetiQ Typhoon contract sustains skilled UK defence engineering jobs
The £205 million extension will sustain around 250 highly skilled jobs across the UK, including specialist roles at QinetiQ, MOD, and RAF sites in Farnborough, MOD Boscombe Down, Malvern, Lincoln, Bristol, RAF Coningsby, and Warton.
The wider EDP sustains more than 3,000 skilled jobs nationwide, with a significant share of work delivered by small and medium-sized enterprises, reinforcing sovereign engineering capability and long-term industrial resilience.
Ministers said the investment aligns with the government’s commitment to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, with Typhoon remaining central to UK and NATO air power for years to come.
Featured image: RAF
