Rheinmetall and HENSOLDT Integrate Passive Radar into Skymaster Air Defence

Rheinmetall Air Defence and HENSOLDT demonstrated the operational integration of passive radar sensing into a networked short-range air defence environment during the German Air Force exercise Timber Express 2026. The trial validated the ability to direct a deployed Skynex air defence battery using target track data derived from passive sensor feeds.

Sensor Fusion and Link 16 Interoperability
During the exercise, air situational data generated by HENSOLDT's Twinvis passive radar system was fed directly into Rheinmetall’s Skymaster command and weapon engagement system. The data exchange occurred under operational NATO networking standards, fusing and correlating sensor tracks across the tactical Link 16 network.

The passive radar demonstrated target detection and continuous tracking across the operational sector. Operating without emitting radio-frequency signals, the Twinvis system provides wide-area military surveillance and civilian air traffic monitoring while reducing the electronic signature of the overall defence network.

Multi-Sensor Network and EMCON Operational Integration
The demonstration evaluated the Skymaster system's open architecture, which combines active radar, passive radar, and electro-optical sensor inputs into a single recognized air picture. This multi-sensor configuration supports strict emissions control (EMCON) strategies, enabling low-emission airspace surveillance while maintaining situational awareness for critical facilities, high-value infrastructure, and mobile forces.

Integrating passive sensors enhances network survivability by denying opposing forces electronic signatures for anti-radiation targeting or identification. The results from the trial establish an integration path across stationary Skynex installations, mobile Skyranger systems, and Skyspotter counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).

The integration was conducted jointly by Rheinmetall Air Defence, HENSOLDT, participating German Air Force organizations, and the exercise management team.

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications not included in the original news release.

Passive coherent location (PCL) systems like passive radar operate without dedicated transmitters, instead utilizing ambient electromagnetic broadcast signals as illuminators of opportunity. These systems process reflections from commercial FM radio (VHF band), digital audio broadcasting (DAB), and digital video broadcasting (DVB-T/T2 in the UHF band). Receiver arrays measure the time difference of arrival (TDOA) and bistatic Doppler shift between a direct reference signal and target-scattered reflections, computing three-dimensional target coordinates and velocity vectors in real time. Because these systems lack active emissions, they are immune to anti-radiation missiles (ARMs) and conventional radio-frequency jamming while providing coverage against low radar-cross-section (RCS) targets and stealth geometries optimized primarily for monostatic microwave frequencies.

The Skymaster Battle Management System (BMS) acts as a centralized command and fire control node operating over an open network architecture. It interfaces with diverse effectors, such as 35 mm Oerlikon Revolver Guns utilizing programmable AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction) airburst ammunition, short-range surface-to-air missile launchers, and high-energy laser modules. Tactical track messages are formatted using NATO standard Link 16 (STANAG 5516 / MIL-STD-6016) J-series digital message structures (such as J3.2 air track messages), enabling multi-source track correlation, automated threat evaluation, weapon assignment, and distributed fire control across tactical data networks.

Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.