The agreement, coming from Navantia UK’s main contractor for the program sees several advanced systems fitted in the new logistics vessels by Hensoldt UK. These will include its Quadome Naval 3D air and surface radar, air traffic management systems, and Kelvin Hughes Integrated Navigation Bridge Systems. The value of the contract has not been disclosed.
The centerpiece is the Quadome radar, featuring small-size threat detection and efficient air traffic management. It provides advanced friend-or-foe identification-a must for operation in crowded maritime theaters, like the Red Sea. Its software-defined active electronically scanned array technology makes it future-proof with an extended operational lifetime and offers high levels of small target detection and mission systems interaction.
The INBS deliverables include navigation radars and multifunction displays, designed and built at Hensoldt UK’s Enfield headquarters. Based on Kelvin Hughes systems used on other RFA ships, they can be customized for specific operational needs, including redundancy and security. The system streamlines navigation tasks, integrating radar, charts, helicopter control, and the Conning Display.
“These contracts support our plans for significant new investment in our UK manufacturing and support facility. We are set to establish a new Quadome radar support and test facility at our Enfield factory, utilizing UK supply chain support,” it is expected that this investment will create at least 50 highly skilled new jobs and secure around 150 existing positions, both within the company and in the UK supply chain.
The FSS ships form a critical element of the UK’s naval strategy, helping to support the replenishment operations of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. The integration of Hensoldt’s advanced systems further supports the operational readiness and flexibility of these vessels.
Navantia UK and Team Resolute are committed to installing class-leading surveillance and navigation systems on the FSS vessels. Sir Alan Massey, non-executive Chairman of Navantia UK, also drew attention to this contract, underlining that it had driven highly skilled employment and prosperity across the UK.
Other than the works with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Hensoldt is also scaling up in other naval programs. It has received an expanded contract from Thales for supplying more TRS-4D naval radars for the F126 frigate program of the German Navy, taking the total order value above € 200 million. This extended contract will place the TRS-4D radar system aboard six vessels of the German Navy, enhancing surveillance and combat capabilities.
While Hensoldt continues to strengthen its contributions to the naval domain, advanced sensor solutions will take center stage in modernizing and further improving the operational effectiveness of deployed naval fleets worldwide.