19 October 2022

Hensoldt and Rafael to team on Eurofighter EK requirement for Germany

by Gareth Jennings

A full-scale mockup of the Eurofighter EK was displayed at the ILA Airshow in June. Hensoldt and Rafael are to team up on developing the podded jammer solution for the aircraft. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Hensoldt and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are to offer a joint solution to Germany for the new airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability it seeks to field from 2028.

German and Israeli defence contractors signed a teaming agreement in Tel Aviv on 18 October, setting out to integrate Hensoldt's Kalaetron Attack technology into Rafael's Sky Shield pod that is being pitched as the electronic jamming payload for the Eurofighter Electronic Combat (Elektronischer Kampf: EK) aircraft.

“Our companies are experts in airborne electronic warfare and combine [the] latest technology with battle-proven equipment,” the CEO of Hensoldt, Thomas Müller, was quoted as saying of the agreement. “Based on these skills and supported by existing government-to-government agreements, we are able to offer the Luftwaffe a sovereign solution to the timely capability transfer of the Tornado ECR [Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance]and, at the same time, to expand the capabilities of the Eurofighter by an escort jamming solution proven in modern operational scenarios.”

News of the teaming arrangement came four months after both companies set out to Janes their respective technologies and plans to fulfil the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter EK requirement at the ILA Berlin Airshow in June.

Hensoldt and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are to offer a joint solution to Germany for the new ai...

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