Radar supply for ground-based air defence
HENSOLDT supports Rheinmetall Air Defence AG with scalable radar deliveries for drone defence and short-range air defence systems under a long-term framework agreement.
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Photo: Rheinmetall
HENSOLDT has signed a long-term framework agreement to supply surveillance radars to Rheinmetall Air Defence AG, supporting ground-based air defence systems designed for low-altitude and drone threat detection.
Framework agreement for sustained radar availability
HENSOLDT will equip air defence systems manufactured by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG with radars from the SPEXER 2000 family under a framework agreement valid into the 2030s. The agreement defines binding commercial and logistical conditions for the delivery of large radar volumes and allows multiple companies within the Rheinmetall Group to place orders under consistent terms.
The contract is intended to provide planning security for both parties while ensuring resilient supply chains for critical radar components used in ground-based air defence.
Technical role of the SPEXER 2000 radar family
The SPEXER radar family consists of surveillance radars designed for the automatic detection and classification of ground, maritime and low-flying aerial targets. Within ground-based air defence architectures, these radars support continuous situational awareness by identifying and tracking small, fast-moving objects at low altitudes.
The SPEXER 2000 variant is optimized for applications requiring high update rates and precise target classification, characteristics that are particularly relevant for counter-UAS and short-range air defence scenarios.
Integration in air defence and drone defence systems
Under the agreement, SPEXER 2000 radars will be integrated into Rheinmetall Air Defence solutions, including drone defence configurations and the Skyranger 30 system. These systems combine sensors and effectors to address threats ranging from small unmanned aerial systems to low-flying aircraft within close and extended protection ranges.
The modular nature of the radar supply under the framework agreement enables Rheinmetall to scale system production according to operational demand while maintaining consistent sensor performance across deployments.
Operational use and reference deployments
SPEXER 2000 radars are already in service with the German Armed Forces in several ground-based air defence and protection roles. These include field camp protection systems, high-energy laser-based drone defence demonstrators, and short- and near-range air defence architectures. Their operational use provides a validated reference for integration into current and future defence platforms.
Industrial and strategic context
The agreement reflects a coordinated industrial approach between HENSOLDT and Rheinmetall to sustain European capabilities in radar and air defence technologies. By securing long-term availability of radar systems for ground-based air defence, the cooperation supports the operational readiness of armed forces while maintaining industrial capacity for critical defence electronics within Europe.
This collaboration illustrates how long-term supply frameworks can support scalable, technically consistent air defence systems in response to evolving low-altitude and drone-based threats.
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