Hensoldt-Rafael Eurofighter Electronic Warfare Suit: Israeli defence company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and German sensor manufacturer Hensoldt have teamed to offer a readily-available, state-of-the-art and mature solution to the Luftwaffe’s requirement of airborne electronic warfare capabilities with Initial Operating Capability by 2028.
The exclusive teaming agreement was signed in Tel Aviv on Tuesday (October 18, 2022) by Hensoldt CEO Thomas Müller, and Rafael’s President and CEO Yoav Har-Even.
Rafael and Hensoldt agreed to embark on a joint endeavour to integrate and enhance RAFAEL’s Sky Shield airborne electronic warfare pod as a mature off-the-shelf Escort Jammer (ESJ), with the latest airborne electronic attack national sensitive technology (KALÆTRON Attack) by Hensoldt.
This new capability supports the Luftwaffe’s decision to adapt the Eurofighter Typhoon into an electronic attack platform. The new EA pod utilizes the existing interfaces of the Litening Pod, already combat-proven on the Typhoon, thus significantly simplifying the integration efforts and saving invaluable resources.
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According to a company statement, together, Rafael and Hensoldt bring the necessary experience not only as solution providers for ESJ, but also in the programme environment of the Eurofighter and related integration and certification processes.
Hensoldt has developed the ‘Kalaetron Attack’ Airborne Jamming System which recently confirmed its effectiveness against various enemy air defence radars. It is part of Henslodt’s fully digital ‘Kalaetron’ product family, which is used in self-protection and signal intelligence systems in the German armed forces. In addition to cognitive software elements, the core comprises a fully digitised, broadband sensor and an electronically controllable, software defined jammer.
Metallic 3D printing enabled a condensed design of the electronic components so that the jammer can be easily integrated into pod formats commonly used worldwide or directly into bodies of various flying platforms.
The system’s effectiveness and responsiveness are also based on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, which enable the classification of unknown threats in the field and the rapid evaluation of large amounts of data. In doing so, the many years of in-depth experience in the development of jamming techniques against radars were efficiently combined with the latest techniques of applying Edge AI computing.
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Celia Pelaz (L) Yoav Har-Even (C) & Thomas Müller (C) at the signing ceremony (October 18, 2022).
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Rafael’s Sky Shield Jammer
Rafael’s Sky Shield Escort Jammer is a military-off-the-shelf solution already delivered to several customers worldwide, therefore allowing for easy integration onto fast jet platforms. Sky Shield leverages the vast experience of Rafael in the Electronic Warfare domain and its experience with German Air Force platforms.
By using AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) technology, the single wideband jamming pod covers present and future high frequency range while providing a High Effective Radiation Power (ERP). Sky Shield is able to generate simultaneous jamming and deception transmissions against multiple threats, and its commonality with existing technology, coupled with its open architecture, allows Henslodt and Rafael to offer a very robust growth potential to address future challenges and provide for exclusive national building blocks.
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Rafael serves as a centre of excellence for Electronic Warfare and is the operator of Israel’s national EW range, possessing significant world-leading expertise in this domain. Some of RAFAEL’s combat-proven, end-to-end airborne solutions are in service in Germany, including the LITENING and RECCELITE Electro-Optic pods on the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter Typhoon. The company’s cutting-edge, life-saving defence solutions are in service with numerous NATO-member nations, including the U.S and across Europe.
“Our companies are experts in airborne electronic warfare and combine latest technology with battle-proven equipment”, says Thomas Müller, CEO Henslodt.
“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 ECR Tornado and, at the same time, to expand the capabilities of the Eurofighter by an escort jamming solution proven in modern operational scenarios,” Müller told media.
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Rafael‘s President and CEO Yoav Har-Even said the company’s new partnership with Hensoldt was a significant milestone in expanding Rafael’s strategic investments in Germany.
“This collaboration is a direct result of Rafael’s strategy to apply localization and ensure local sovereignty. Hensoldt and Rafael share a common vision, unique knowledge, and an organizational culture of excellence. Under the leadership of Henslodt, these will come together synergistically to provide the Luftwaffe with top-notch EW/EA capabilities, necessary to address current and future threats and challenges,” Yoav Har-Even said in a statement sent to Defence Star.
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Kalaetron Attack Radar Jammer.
Hensoldt’s Kalaetron Radar Jammer
Taufkirchen based German defence company Hensoldt develops radars, including Kalaetron Radar Jammer, electronic warfare suits, avionics and optronics to combat a wide range of threats. Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed Hensoldt has more than 6,400 employees and generated revenues of 1.5 billion euros in 2021.
