Aircraft
Typhoon’s E-scan Radar Introduction Months Away
Deliveries of Typhoons with electronically-scanned array radars are approaching, but new development paths are emerging among the original partners.
Typhoon trials aircraft IPA5 with the Captor-E radar undergoes tests in an anechoic chamber. (Photo: Eurofighter)
Typhoon trials aircraft IPA5 with the Captor-E radar undergoes tests in an anechoic chamber. (Photo: Eurofighter)

The Eurofighter Typhoon has lagged behind some of its competitors in fielding an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA, or E-scan) radar, but the service introduction of the Captor-E AESA radar on the aircraft is now just months away. Captor-E is currently in production for Kuwait, which will receive its first aircraft this year, and under contract for Qatar. Airbus Defence and Space and sensor system supplier Hensoldt has also signed a contract for an AESA radar for retrofit to the German Tranche 2 and 3 and Spanish Tranche 3 Eurofighter fleets.