Hensoldt to equip German transport aircraft with missile defence system

Germany's Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules to be equipped with Hensoldt missile defence system. (Lockheed Martin)

The German Bundeswehr will equip its three new Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 airlifters and three KC-130J tanker-transports with Hensoldt's MILDS Block 2 missile defence system, Hensoldt announced on 11 March.

Hensoldt will supply 35 MILDS Block 2 systems in total – five per aircraft and five for laboratory use – to Danish-based Terma A/S, who are managing the integration of the systems, the announcement stated.

20 MILDS Block 2 sensors have already been supplied, with the remaining 15 expected to be delivered by January 2023, Hensoldt detailed.

The contract, signed in 2020, totals EUR2.9 million (USD3.2 million), Hensoldt announced.

According to the company, “MILDS Block 2 is a passive, true imaging sensor system … that detects incoming missile threats and indicates the direction of arrival with maximum warning time. MILDS Block 2's high spatial resolution combined with advanced temporal processing provides a very high declaration rate while virtually eliminating false alarms. MILDS Block 2 consists typically of four to six identical interconnected detectors integrated into the higher-level [electronic warfare] system. In addition, neither a cooling nor central processing unit are required”.

On 19 February the first Luftwaffe Hercules aircraft was delivered to the Franco-German air-transport squadron in Évreux, France, Hensoldt added.

Janes notes that deliveries were initially due to begin in 2021 to the Franco-German unit in Évreux.

In August 2021 Florence Parly, French Defence Minister, and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Defence Minister, signed an agreement to form a joint C-130J squadron based at Evreux Air Base in Normandy.

The squadron will consist of three Luftwaffe C-130J-30 and three KC-130J's, while France will contribute four of the same systems.