The UK government has committed close to half a billion pounds to upgrading the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fighter fleet, a move ministers say will protect national security, strengthen NATO air defence and support more than 1,500 skilled jobs across the country.
The investment includes a £453 million contract awarded to UK industry to deliver advanced radar systems for Typhoon aircraft. Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the deal during a visit to Leonardo UK’s site in Edinburgh.
Under the agreement, BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt will manufacture and integrate the new radar capability over the coming years. The work is expected to sustain around 300 highly skilled jobs in Scotland, alongside 120 roles in Lancashire and more than 100 in Luton. Across the wider supply chain, the Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs at 330 companies nationwide.
The radar contract follows a separate £205 million, five-year agreement announced earlier this week with QinetiQ to provide long-term engineering and technical support for the Typhoon fleet, sustaining up to 250 additional jobs. Together, the two deals represent more than £650 million in defence investment announced in a single week.
The funding delivers on commitments set out in the government’s Strategic Defence Review and underlines plans for Typhoon to remain in frontline service until at least the 2040s.
John Healey said the aircraft remained central to both UK and NATO security.
“Our Typhoon fleet is the backbone of UK and NATO air defence, operated across Europe by the Royal Air Force and our allies to protect our skies and security,” he said. “As the threats we face increase, and as Russian drones continue to strike Ukraine and violate NATO airspace, this cutting-edge radar capability will keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad for many years to come.”
“In Edinburgh and across the UK, we’re backing more than 20,000 skilled workers on the Typhoon programme who ensure our RAF remains ready to protect Britain. Our government has backed their high-skilled work with more than £650 million of investment this week alone, securing British jobs and making defence an engine for growth in Scotland and beyond.”
The upgrade programme will deliver 40 European Common Radar System Mk2 radars for RAF Typhoons, including 38 new systems and modifications to two test units. Once installed, the radars will enable aircraft to detect, identify and track multiple air and ground targets simultaneously, while also providing electronic attack and high-powered jamming capabilities in contested environments.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said the contract highlighted Scotland’s importance to the UK’s defence industry.
“This £453 million contract award to build state-of-the-art radar systems for Typhoon fighter jets shows just how vital Scottish expertise is to the UK’s national security,” he said. “This upgrade to the RAF fleet, sustaining 300 jobs at Leonardo in Edinburgh and many more in the supply chain, is the latest in an impressive line of defence dividend wins for Scotland.”
Mark Stead, Senior Vice President of Radar and Advanced Targeting at Leonardo UK, said the technology would significantly enhance the aircraft’s combat capability.
“ECRS Mk2 isn’t just an exceptional radar,” he said. “It’s equipped with advanced electronic surveillance and electronic attack capabilities which will make RAF Typhoons more potent against their adversaries, adapting to new and unpredictable threats.”
He added that the contract would secure 300 roles in Edinburgh and around 100 in Luton, while supporting more than 70 UK-based suppliers.
Richard Hamilton, Managing Director for Europe and International at BAE Systems, said sustained investment in Typhoon was critical for the UK’s combat air power.
“The Typhoon programme is a fundamental pillar of the UK’s national defence and security,” he said. “Operating at the heart of NATO operations, Typhoon aircraft provide air policing along Europe’s eastern flank.”
