Germany is preparing to award a €1.2 billion contract to upgrade its Eurofighter EK fleet in early October, according to Bloomberg News. The package includes Saab’s Arexis system which for the Eurofighter EK has been adapted with newly designed wideband antennas and line replaceable items. The new architecture integrates digital receivers, transmitters and processing units tailored for electronic attack and protection tasks. Furthermore an additional low band antenna is added to expand coverage against long wavelength radars, giving the aircraft the ability to detect and counter both modern wideband emitters and legacy early warning systems. AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) from Northrop Grumman and Helsing’s Cirra AI are also part of the upgrade. The integration work is being led and coordinated by Airbus in Manching. 15 Eurofighters will be equipped to replace the Tornado ECR in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) role.
In Step 1 of the program, which runs until around 2030, the consortium has already completed all milestones scheduled up to the third quarter of 2025 as set out in the Master Phasing Chart. These include antenna and LRI adaptations, low band antenna studies, dummy and rig testing, as well as the specification, design reviews and prototyping for the integration of AGM-88E launchers. Technical governance processes, staffing and secure development environments have also been established, providing the framework for further software and system integration. Eurofighter EK Step 1 focuses on sensors, AI signals processing and kinetic SEAD capability with the AARGM. Step 2 is planned to follow in parallel development with subsequent procurement, adding an escort jammer pod for stand-off protection and an electronic combat wingman. At least 15 additional aircraft are to be equipped in this phase, with planners also envisaging the integration of longer-range armaments, details of which remain undisclosed.
Saab and Helsing argue their joint solution from Linköping, Nuremberg and Munich provides a sovereign and future proof response, combining adapted Arexis hardware with novel software to detect, classify and counter new threats in real time.
According to Saab and Helsing the Eurofighter EK will offer machine learning based signal processing, GaN jammer capability and a modular architecture that allows rapid software iteration independent of hardware cycles. This is intended to give the Luftwaffe long term sovereignty over sensitive data and ensure continuous growth in capability beyond 2030.