German company Hendsoldt has been contracted to develop an electronic signal intelligence (SIGINT) pod for integration into the Eurodrone.
To equip the #Eurodrone with #SIGINT capabilities, @HENSOLDT develops a pod solution for #reconnaissance of radio and radar signals. Now, we just signed a contract with German @BAAINBw for implementation and testing of a signal #intelligence demonstrator.https://t.co/eexRvnDM2s
— HENSOLDT (@hensoldt) January 20, 2023
Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT is developing sensor equipment that can be integrated into a pod to provide the Eurodrone, the European long-range unmanned intelligence aircraft project, with signals intelligence (SIGINT) capability. The sensor technology for radio and radar signal recognition is based on a combination of the latest scanning, electronic beam steering and 3D metal printing technologies, some of which HENSOLDT has already developed for its “Kalaetron” family of self-defense products..
The contract for the implementation and testing of a SIGINT demonstrator worth approximately 15 million euros has now been awarded by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw).
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“From our experience with other SIGINT projects and our own technology programmes, we are in a position to offer a flexible SIGINT solution for the Eurodrone that can be integrated into a pod, but can also be used networked with other platforms,” says Christoph Ruffner, Head of the Spectrum Dominance & Airborne Solutions Division at HENSOLDT. In addition to the sensor suite itself, HENSOLDT is also developing a system architecture for integrating the SIGINT capability into the future mission system of the Eurodrone as part of this contract.
The “Kalaetron” product family is already being used in self-protection and signals intelligence systems by the German Armed Forces, among others. On its own initiative, HENSOLDT has already demonstrated its communications reconnaissance capabilities (C-ESM) in ground and flight tests. The core elements of the system are a fully digitalised, broadband receiver, an electronically controllable antenna and a condensed structure of the electronic components that was only made possible by metallic 3D printing. In combination, these elements allow the SIGINT equipment to be incorporated into a compact pod system that can be easily integrated into flying platforms, but also scaled for sea and land applications.
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