The Airbus A320 ATRA, modified with the nose of the Eurofighter, conducted flights in its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) configuration to support the testing of the AESA ECRS Mk.1 radar.
The aircraft will serve as a flying testbed to validate radar performance, verify integration concepts, and enhance avionics systems before installation on the operational Eurofighters of Germany and Spain. The radar, developed jointly by Hensoldt and Indra, promises to enhance capabilities in air-to-air, air-to-ground, and electronic warfare.
The choice of the A320 as the testbed is due to its greater range and less flight bureaucracy compared to the Eurofighter, allowing for more extensive data collection and tests in real-world flight conditions.
The program involved adapting the aircraft’s nose and reinforcing the fuselage, tasks carried out by Airbus teams in Manching and Toulouse, in collaboration with DLR, ensuring the platform can accurately simulate the Typhoon’s operational conditions.
The ECRS Mk.1, a variant of the AESA radar, is expected to equip the German and Spanish Typhoons acquired under the Quadriga and Halcón programs, offering enhanced detection, multiple target tracking, and simultaneous multimode operations. The radar is expected to be operational by mid-decade, solidifying the Eurofighter as a competitive multirole fighter and paving the way for future sixth-generation fighter aircraft technologies in Europe.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @AirbusDefence | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
When you and your bestie show up to the party in the same outfit 👀
We hope you didn’t fall for our little clickbait 😉 This is of course the hybrid of the @DLR_EN #A320 Advanced Technology Research Aircraft (ATRA) and a #Eurofighter. Following the first flight earlier this year,… pic.twitter.com/toNdN1GFjb— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) September 23, 2025
