Saab begins German Eurofighter EW sensor suit works
The German defence procurement office announced the selection of the Arexis system last June. (Photo: Eurofighter GmbH)
The enhanced Eurofighters will replace the ageing Tornado ECR jets in the German Air Force’s fleet.
Saab has received an order from Airbus to upgrade 15 German Eurofighter Typhoon fighters with the Arexis Electronic Warfare (EW) sensor suit.
The German defence procurement office announced the selection of the Arexis system last June and the recent contract award has marked the start of the first phase of the order.
Once completed, the upgraded Eurofighters will replace the German Air Force’s Tornado Electronic Combat Reconnaissance (ECR) jets. The Bundeswehr announced the replacement of its Tornado division in March 2022, with phasing out of the Tornado ECRs entirely between 2025 and 2030. Some of the ECR and IDS jets will be replaced by F-35As.
Defence AI company Helsing will support Saab in the Arexis programme by providing its AI platform which will be integrated into the Arexis suite. The new EW sensor suit was said to enable the fighters to detect, locate and identify radar emitters in complex and congested electromagnetic environments.
“Combining advanced hardware and AI-enabled software, our Arexis sensor suite will strengthen the German defence with future-proof electronic warfare capability for decades to come,” said Micael Johansson, CEO and president of Saab.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase]()
NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase
The proposed drone acquisition is intended to form part of a distributed structure of surveillance capabilities, complementing systems such as the RQ-4D Global Hawks already acquired by NATO.
-
![US Air Force unveils new details of Next Generation Airlift aircraft to replace C-17 and C-5]()
US Air Force unveils new details of Next Generation Airlift aircraft to replace C-17 and C-5
New planning documents reveal how the service is defining the aircraft expected to succeed the C-17 and C-5, including its initial requirements and procurement roadmap.
-
![Could CUAS demand open a new market for armed trainer aircraft?]()
Could CUAS demand open a new market for armed trainer aircraft?
As affordable counter-drone solutions become a military priority, repurposing training aircraft could emerge as a credible option to prepare for emergency scenarios.
-
![A new shape in the sky? Mapping out the F-47’s configuration]()
A new shape in the sky? Mapping out the F-47’s configuration
As images of what might be an F-47 prototype or proof-of-concept vehicle emerge from the Nevada desert, what do they tell us about the aircraft’s capabilities and enabling technologies?
