Hensoldt has secured an additional contract from Thales for the supply of TRS-4D naval radars intended for the F126 frigates of the German Navy bringing the overall contract value to over EUR 200 million.
The original order made in 2022 included the provision of TRS-4D naval radars for four Niedersachsen-class frigates (F126) along with a radar segment intended for the test centre. With the recent expansion, an additional two F126 frigates will also be outfitted.
The TRS-4D naval radar, produced by Hensoldt, will be deployed in a non-rotating configuration featuring four fixed antenna arrays. Thales will oversee the integration of the radar systems on both the vessels and shore facilities to ensure the operational and combat systems align with German specifications. Consequently, the delivery timeline will be extended due to this contract modification.
‘Our TRS-4D and its high-end components will be deployed on six German Navy ships in the future and offer the customer a high degree of commonality,’ said Markus Rothmaier, Head of Naval & Ground Radars at HENSOLDT. ‘We are already working on the radars for the four frigates on a daily basis and are delighted that the option for two more has been taken up.’
Initiated in 2020, the F126 program represents the latest frigate initiative of the German Navy. With the recent contract extension, the F126 class will encompass a total of six vessels. Additionally, the program features multiple land-based testing and training facilities.
The TRS-4D radar family is already operational in various configurations on German Navy ships, including the F125 frigate and the K130 corvette. This product line also includes the TRML-4D ground-based air defence radar, which has demonstrated outstanding detection capabilities in Ukraine. The family-oriented approach facilitates ongoing product enhancements and provides benefits in spare parts availability and training.
