Hensoldt, a leading European defence electronics company, has secured a follow-on contract for the supply of additional TRS-4D radars for the German Navy's Type 126 frigate programme, the company announced on 19 August.
This latest contract, awarded by Thales, will see Hensoldt deliver two further TRS-4D radars, equipping the final two vessels in the six-ship programme. The initial contract, awarded in 2022, covered the supply of TRS-4D radars for the first four Type 126 frigates, along with a radar segment for the programme's test centre. This latest order brings the total value of the contract to over â¬200 million (USD221 million).
The TRS-4D radar is a fixed-face version of Hensoldt's C-band (NATO G-/H-band) active electronically scanned array (AESA) multifunction air/surface surveillance radar, featuring solid-state gallium nitride (GaN) transmit modules. Both rotating and non-rotating versions of the radar boast a maximum instrumented range of up to 250 km (135 nautical miles) and a minimum range of less than 100 metres. The radar can detect targets with a radar cross-section of 0.01 m<sup>2</sup> and boasts a track update rate of less than one second.
The original contract stipulated that initial deliveries of the radar systems were expected to begin in 2025. This timeline has been extended in light of the contract expansion. The integration of the radar onto the ships and shore installations will be handled by Thales, ensuring the delivery of an operational and combat system that meets German requirements.
This contract win further strengthens Hensoldt's position in the German defence sector and highlights the company's expertise in radar technology. The TRS-4D radar will be a key component of the Type 126 frigates, enabling them to effectively detect and track threats in a wide range of operational scenarios.
