Cost drivers in airborne fighter radar programmes

This paper considers the factors that drive up costs in airborne radar programmes. It concentrates on fighter radars that pose the most difficult technical challenges on account of the complexity required and the constraints applied to volume, mass, power and vibration in the fighter environment. It observes that a comprehensive effort spanning concept, procurement, development and support is needed to achieve the lowest cost. Data is drawn from the development of the ECR 90 radar, now ordered in production quantities for the Eurofighter/Typhoon aircraft