13 November 2019: Airbus and its partners introduced for the first time concrete details of the new Eurofighter electronic combat role (ECR) concept at the International Fighter Conference in Berlin.
This role will widen Eurofighter's multi-role capabilities and further increase the survivability of coalition forces in hostile environments.
Collaborative electronic warfare capabilities are necessary for future combined air operations.
Initial Eurofighter ECR capability will be available by 2026 and will be followed by further development steps and full integration into the future combat air system (FCAS) ecosystems.
Eurofighter ECR will be able to offer passive emitter location as well as active jamming of threats, and will offer a variety of modular configurations for electronic attack (EA) and suppression/destruction of enemy air defence (SEAD/DEAD). Latest national escort jammer technology will make sure national control over features such as mission data and data analysis. The concept also has a new twin-seat cockpit configuration with a multi-function panoramic touch display and a dedicated mission cockpit for the rear-seat.
Eurofighter is the backbone of German air defence. With over 600 aircraft under contract and a workforce of 100.000 it is the largest collaborative defence programme in Europe to date.