AESA radar funding decision for German Eurofighter jet means boost for sensor market
NewsJune 17, 2020
TAUFKIRCHEN, Germany. Sensor-systems maker HENSOLDT reports that it is pleased about the decision by the German Bundestag to develop the new active electronic scanning array (AESA) radar for the entire German Eurofighter fleet; company officials hail the government's move as a positive signal for Germany as a technology base and for successful European cooperation in the defense sector.
Thomas Müller, CEO of HENSOLDT, said of the decison: "Germany is taking on a pioneering role in the field of key technology for the Eurofighter for the first time. This will create high-tech jobs in Germany and give the Bundeswehr the equipment it needs to respond to new threats. In addition, it is a signal for Europe that Germany is investing in a technology that is of crucial importance for European defense cooperation."
According to information from HENSOLDT, the release of the budget for the development, production, and integration of a new radar for the Eurofighter combat aircraft -- HENSOLDT's share of this pie is over 1.5 billion euros ($1.68 billion) -- means that the Bundestag's Budget Committee has cleared the way for the modernization of the Eurofighter in one crucial area: sensor technology. To date, the development of the radar for the aircraft has been done in a consortium under British leadership, now, responsibility for the Eurofighter's radar system will be passed to HENSOLDT. At the same time, the German government also approved the budget for the procurement of four MKS 180 multi-purpose combat ships for the German navy; these ships use TRS-4D naval radars, also based on AESA technology and made by HENSOLDT.
