Hensoldt to deliver TRS-4D radars on German Navy F126 frigates

Originally developed by Cassidian (later Airbus Defence and Space, now Hensoldt Sensors GmbH) the TRS-4D is an AESA multifunction air/surface radar. (Airbus Defence and Space)

Hensoldt has signed a contract worth more than EUR100 million (USD109 million) with mission combat system integrator Thales to supply its TRS-4D naval radar on the German Navy F126 future multi-purpose frigates, Hensoldt announced on 13 April.

Hensoldt will integrate its TRS-4D non-rotating radar, fitted with four fixed-panel arrays. The integration of the radar on the ships and shore installations will be completed by Thales to ensure a mission and combat system that complies with the German requirements, Hensoldt stated.

Initial deliveries of the system are expected in 2025.

A Hensoldt spokesperson confirmed to Janes that the company is supplying its TRS-4D Fixed Panel radar. The system is a C-band (NATO G-/H-band) (4–8 GHz) active electronically scanned array (AESA) multifunction surveillance and target acquisition radar for installation onboard medium and large surface ships.

The system features fast-track initiation and confirmation with the radar beam being deflected backwards (against the direction of rotation), giving a confirmed detection time of one second or less.

Both the non-rotating and rotating versions have an instrumented range of between 100 m and 250 km (135 n miles), and up to 1,000 targets can be tracked simultaneously. A small surface target can allegedly be detected at 14 km (7.5 n miles) and a maritime patrol aircraft at 100 km (54 n miles). It is expected to detect supersonic sea-skimming missiles at the radar horizon, and the ability to detect targets with a radar cross section (RCS) of <0.01 m ² .