Germany is readying a joint program with Spain that will see its newer Eurofighters equipped with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars.
The project is currently being negotiated between Germany and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA), according to the head of combat aircraft systems for Airbus Defence and Space, Kurt Rossner. The hope is for a contract to be inked before the end of the year, or in early 2020. Deliveries of the upgraded aircraft will then proceed from 2022 onward.
The AESA radars – the new E-Scan Mk 1 – will be supplied by a Leonardo-led Euroradar consortium. For Germany, the AESA radars will be retrofitted to 110 of its Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 Eurofighters. Spain plans to initially perform the update on 19 of its fighters.
CORRECTION – Project Quadriga is for 38 new-build Typhoons with E-SCAN to REPLACE Luftwaffe Tranche 1 Eurofighters. #AirbusTMB pic.twitter.com/ejPj7P716k
— Tim Robinson (@RAeSTimR) November 5, 2019
In parallel with this joint radar upgrade initiative, Germany plans to procure up to 38 of the newest version of the Eurofighter Typhoon to replace its Tranche 1 models under Project Quadriga. These would come equipped with AESA radars and allow the German Air Force to phase out its older models that began arriving in 2003. The aim is for a Quadriga contract to be reached by early 2020 in order for deliveries to begin around 2024.
A German air force Eurofighter Typhoon launches from the runway at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 4, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III) – U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III
Dan Darling is Forecast International’s director of military and defense markets. In this role, Dan oversees a team of analysts tasked with covering everything from budgeting to weapons systems to defense electronics and military aerospace. Additionally, for over 17 years Dan has, at various times, authored the International Military Markets reports for Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.
Dan's work has been cited in Defense News, Real Clear Defense, Asian Military Review, Al Jazeera, and Financial Express, among others, and he has also contributed commentary to The Diplomat, The National Interest and World Politics Review. He has been quoted in Arabian Business, the Financial Times, Flight International, The New York Times, Bloomberg and National Defense Magazine.
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