Avro RJ100 Converted to Test RAF Typhoon’s Next-Generation ECRS Mk2 Radar
BAE Systems and QinetiQ are converting an Avro RJ100 regional jet into a dedicated flight test platform for integrating Leonardo UK’s ECRS Mk2 AESA radar, developed for the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet.
The aircraft, registered G-ETPL and owned by QinetiQ, is designated as an Air Technology Demonstrator (ATD) and equipped with a “fighter aircraft nose system” designed to house radar and sensor systems. It was first unveiled in 2023.
Throughout 2025, BAE Systems will focus on airworthiness assessments, structural and avionics design modifications, and integration of the radar interface. Paul Smith stated, “Over the coming months, we will implement the necessary changes to ensure the ATD is ready for ECRS Mk2 testing.”
Developed by Leonardo UK, the ECRS Mk2 is a next-generation system featuring Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar technology. The radar offers high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging, automatic target recognition, and wideband electronic attack capabilities.
The radar, part of the Stage 4 Enhancement (P4E) program to advance Typhoon’s operational capabilities, will be used exclusively on RAF Typhoons. The first prototype of the ECRS Mk2 was delivered to BAE Systems in April 2023, and initial flight trials were completed in September 2024.
The ATD platform will take over a significant portion of Typhoon flight tests, reducing costs and allowing earlier evaluation of radar modes. BAE Systems anticipates that more than 50% of current radar testing can be transferred to the RJ100.
The aircraft’s systems include modern flight test instrumentation, five modular cabin racks, and real-time monitoring workstations. The fighter aircraft nose system will accommodate the ECRS Mk2 and future radar and sensor payloads.
The ECRS Mk2 will enhance Typhoon’s air superiority and Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions, while creating hundreds of jobs in the UK’s defense aerospace sector. The system will be installed on 40 Tranche 3 RAF Typhoon aircraft from 2028 and will enter service before the end of the decade.
BAE Systems and Leonardo UK note that test data obtained from the ATD will inform sixth-generation fighter development programs and advanced projects such as the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
