HENSOLDT: Germany’s Radar, Sensor and Electronic Warfare Giant

When Ukraine’s air defenses detect an incoming cruise missile or drone swarm, the sensor that raises the alarm often bears a German logo: HENSOLDT. The Taufkirchen-based defense electronics company has become one of Europe’s most consequential names in modern warfare. With EUR 2.24 billion in revenue for 2024 — up more than 21 percent year-on-year — and a verified order backlog of EUR 6.64 billion, HENSOLDT is no longer just a Bavarian sensor specialist. It is an anchor of NATO’s European defense electronics supply chain.

Corporate Overview

History

HENSOLDT traces its origins to the sensor, optronics and electronic warfare divisions of Airbus Defence & Space (formerly EADS/Cassidian). In 2017, Airbus divested these units to private equity firm KKR, creating an independent defense electronics company under the HENSOLDT brand.

The German government’s re-entry came in March 2021, when KfW acquired a 25.1% stake on behalf of the Federal Government for approximately EUR 330 million. Leonardo’s EUR 606 million acquisition of a parallel 25.1% stake in January 2022 added a pan-European industrial dimension. The April 2024 acquisition of ESG GmbH pushed headcount to approximately 9,000 and expanded HENSOLDT’s software and system lifecycle management capabilities.

Product Portfolio

TRML-4D Air Defense Radar

The TRML-4D is HENSOLDT’s flagship product — a C-band GaN AESA radar capable of simultaneously tracking more than 1,500 targets at ranges up to 250 km. Its minimum detectable radar cross-section of 0.01 m² allows it to engage small UAVs and cruise missiles that conventional radars struggle to detect. First unveiled at Eurosatory 2018, it has become the centerpiece of confirmed contracts exceeding EUR 440 million for Ukrainian and ESSI customers.

Twinvis Passive Radar

Twinvis exploits the civilian broadcast spectrum — FM radio, DAB, and DVB-T — to detect and track airborne targets without emitting a single watt of radar energy. The system fuses data from up to 16 FM transmitters, 5 DAB networks, and 5 DVB-T networks simultaneously, delivers 360-degree 3D coverage, and achieves track update rates under one second. Because it is entirely passive, it cannot be located or suppressed by conventional radar warning or jamming systems.

SPEXER Ground Surveillance Radar Family

The SPEXER family covers the full range of ground-based surveillance requirements. The SPEXER 500 addresses short-range perimeter security; the SPEXER 2000 handles medium-range multi-role surveillance; and the SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII — the most advanced variant — was contracted for Ukraine alongside TRML-4D in July 2025.

Kalaetron Electronic Warfare Suite

Kalaetron is HENSOLDT’s modular EW family for the Eurofighter Typhoon. The Attack variant handles active electronic jamming; the Integral variant integrates self-protection functions into the aircraft’s electronic architecture; the RWR provides real-time threat warnings. The suite represents the core of Germany’s sovereign electronic warfare capability.

Eurofighter Captor-E AESA Radar

HENSOLDT is the German industrial partner in the EURORADAR consortium developing the Captor-E AESA radar for the Eurofighter Typhoon, led by Leonardo with Indra as additional partner. HENSOLDT produces and supplies the radar units for Germany’s Typhoon fleet.

SERO-400 Submarine Periscope

The SERO-400 is an optronic search periscope equipped with a thermal imager. In August 2019, HENSOLDT signed an approximately EUR 40 million contract with Turkish company STM for eight SERO-400 units for four Turkish Navy Preveze Class (Type 209) submarines — described by HENSOLDT as “already our third project with STM.”

Turkey Relations

HENSOLDT maintains a documented industrial relationship with Turkey through its partnership with STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik). The companies have collaborated on at least three programs: AY-class submarine modernization (SERO-250), Agosta-class upgrade work, and the 2019 SERO-400 contract for Preveze-class submarines. Open-source reporting further indicates HENSOLDT-STM discussions in the context of Turkey’s Reis-class submarines (Type 214 program), though no contract has been publicly confirmed.

Financial Performance

Competitors

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HENSOLDT?

HENSOLDT AG is a German defense electronics company headquartered in Taufkirchen, near Munich. It specializes in radar systems, sensors, electronic warfare, electro-optics, and IFF technology. It was spun off from Airbus in 2017.

Which country is HENSOLDT from?

HENSOLDT is a German company. The German Federal Government holds 25.1% via KfW, and Italian defense giant Leonardo holds approximately 25.1%.

What is the TRML-4D radar?

The TRML-4D is HENSOLDT’s GaN AESA air defense radar operating in C-band. It can simultaneously track more than 1,500 targets at ranges up to 250 km and is actively deployed in Ukraine under German-funded contracts.

What is Twinvis?

Twinvis is HENSOLDT’s passive radar system. It detects airborne targets using existing FM radio, DAB, and DVB-T broadcasts without emitting any radar signal. It offers 360-degree 3D tracking with a sub-one-second update rate.

Does HENSOLDT work with Turkey?

Yes. HENSOLDT has completed at least three collaborative projects with Turkish company STM. The most recent confirmed project is the August 2019 SERO-400 contract — approximately EUR 40 million — covering eight optronic periscopes for four Turkish Navy Preveze-class submarines.

What is HENSOLDT’s revenue?

HENSOLDT reported EUR 2,240 million in revenue for FY2024, representing 21.3% growth versus EUR 1,847 million in FY2023.

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