HENSOLDT Secures Major Deal to Upgrade German F124 Frigates with Cutting-Edge Radar Technology

Sensor technology provider HENSOLDT, in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is delivering advanced radar systems to the German Navy to enhance the sensor capabilities of the F124 air defense frigates. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and Operation (BAAINBw) has secured a contract valued at roughly 200 million euros for the provision and installation of four sensor systems that include radar and IFF technology.

This contract will rejuvenate the radar systems of the F124 frigates to address the obsolescence of electronic components. It also signifies the initiation of developing national capacities in the realm of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD). The package comprises a shore-based facility that perfectly mimics the ship’s radar systems. This enables training for operators and service personnel, and it also allows for further innovations to be evaluated on land before being installed on the vessels.

In pursuit of this objective, HENSOLDT has formed a strategic alliance in the domain of BMD-capable wide-area radars in the S-band with IAI’s subsidiary, ELTA Systems Ltd. This arrangement provides the German client with the benefit of both a domestic partner for certification and ongoing support, alongside readily available systems that have proven effective in real-world scenarios. Previously, the contract for the modernization of terrestrial air surveillance under the HADR NF initiative, also involving a partnership with IAI’s ELTA, was assigned to HENSOLDT. The radar systems employed in both endeavors share a nearly identical design, offering logistical benefits and facilitating the long-term operation of the systems for the customer. In this manner, additional advancements can be utilized across projects and introduced in a more economical fashion.