Tag Archives: F126

Navy

Sensor Suite

Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has signed a contract worth over a hundred million Euros with mission combat system integrator Thales, to deliver its TRS-4D naval radar to the future multi-purpose frigates F126 of the German Navy.

Frigate Type 126
HENSOLDT and Thales provide the new F126 frigates of the German Navy with a powerful sensor suite (Photo: Damen Naval)

Contracted in 2020, F126 is the latest frigate programme for the German Navy. The F126 class will consist of four ships (with an option for two more ships); the program also includes multiple land-based test and training sites. The first frigate F126 is expected to be delivered to the customer in 2028. The entire programme will run for over ten years.

HENSOLDT’s TRS-4D radar will be installed in its non-rotating version with four fixed-panel arrays. The integration of the radar on the ships and shore installations will be done by Thales to deliver a mission and combat system that complies with the German requirements.

First deliveries are scheduled for 2025. With this system, in combination with other systems and sensors onboard, F126 has the ability to operate in the most complex maritime environments, and therefore contribute internationally to securing safety and stability.

Gerben Edelijn, Vice President Thales Above Water Systems: «We are happy to work together with HENSOLDT and give the Frigates F126 a sensor suite that fully complies with the German requirements. German and Netherlands’ navies and industry have a long tradition of working together with formidable results and we are looking forward to continuing this tradition».

«Our TRS-4D and its high-end components are deployed onboard several German Navy ships offering a high degree of commonalities to the customer», said Markus Rothmaier, Vice President Naval & Ground Radars at HENSOLDT. «I am proud that we are able to offer the German Navy, together with Thales’ sensor technology and combat system, a comprehensive and truly European solution».

Radars of the TRS-4D product family are already in service in different versions onboard German Navy ships, among them the Frigate F125 and the Corvette K130 (second batch) and benefit from continuous product improvements and advantages with regards to spare part management and training. For this reason, TRS-4D NR has been pre-selected by the German Navy.

 

 

TRS-4D Fixed Panel

TRS-4D is HENSOLDT’s latest member of the C-Band (NATO G-Band) naval radar family. It is available with a single face rotating antenna and also as a four fixed-panel configuration.

Based on the most advanced Gallium Nitride Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) sensor technology with multiple digitally formed beams, the new generation TRS-4D opens a new dimension for maritime missions.

For threatening targets, the TRS-4D initiates a track within a single scan using its electronic scanning capability. This results in a reliable, immediate target alert.

The system automatically classifies targets as high priority threats and allocates additional radar illumination (Cued Track).

The allocation of radar resources to different scan types provides a versatile combination of volume search, surface search and high-priority tracking.

The radar has sufficient capacity to uphold all functions simultaneously even in stressing situations with high target density and challenging littoral and coastal clutter environments. This ensures platform survivability and mission success.

TRS-4D’s unique concept of simultaneous multi-beams and Doppler processing ensures reliable performance of all operational tasks at a high update rate.

It’s very flexible installation concept enables ships like offshore patrol vessels, corvettes and frigates to exert the different functions of a shipborne surveillance and target acquisition radar, in blue waters and in complex littoral environment with high target densities.

TRS-4D marks an innovative step beyond conventional radar into a «new dimension» of operational capabilities. The outstanding benefits of the new technology are tailor-made for naval customers.

 

Features

Instrumented range 250 km/155 miles
Azimuth coverage 360° (four fixed panels)
Target detection capability of 0.01 m² Radar Cross-Section (RCS)
Capacity of 1500 targets 3D tracking
Track range performance fighter aircraft > 110 km/68 miles, small surface target > 14 km/8.7 miles
Track update rate < 1 s
Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) < 0.5 hrs
Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Mode 5

 

HENSOLDT TRS-4D – Naval Surveillance Radar

 

Specifications

Length 166 m/544.6 feet
Beam 21.7 m/71.2 feet
Draught 5.9 m/19.4 feet
Displacement 10,550 t
Maximum Speed 26 knots/30 mph/48 km/h
Range >4,000 NM/4,603 miles/7,408 km
Area Global (including Ice Class 1C)
Crew 198

 

Navy

Vulcano naval gun

Leonardo’s OTO 127/64 LightWeight (LW) Vulcano naval defence systems have been selected by Damen to equip German Navy’s new four F126 frigates, with the addition of two optional vessels. In addition, the contract includes the supply of support for maintenance activities, simulators for crew training and on-board activities for the integration and commissioning of the system.

OTO 127-64 LW Vulcano
Damen chooses Leonardo to equip German Navy’s new frigates

The OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano naval gun is a technologically sophisticated and fully digitalized system able to provide constant support to operators and the on-board Combat Management System for the calculation of shooting solutions during mission planning. Unique in the international marketplace, Leonardo’s 127/64 LW Vulcano gun can employ equally the standard ammunition 127-mm and both variants of the company’s Vulcano 127-mm ammunition: Guided Long Range (GLR) and Ballistic Extended Range (BER). The gun extends a naval unit’s defensive capability up to 85 km/52.8 miles/45.9 NM while maintaining precision accuracy.

The new agreement builds upon a long-standing strategic partnership between Leonardo – which has different activities in the Country including Leonardo Germany GmbH subsidiary, with a production facility in Neuss – and the German Navy. Leonardo’s naval defence systems already equip German Navy vessels of various, including its Baden-Württemberg class frigates, which are also equipped with the Vulcano ammunition-firing OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano weapon system.

Hein van Ameijden, Managing Director Damen Naval says: «The F126 project is going forward with full speed and in trustworthy cooperation with the German authorities. Leonardo is the perfect partner for our mission to deliver at least four state-of-the-art frigates for the German Navy. F126 will set new standards regarding modularity and capabilities and Leonardo’s naval defence system is an important contribution».

In the naval domain, Leonardo is further consolidating the strategic and established relationship both with Damen Naval and the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has already selected the 127/64 LW Vulcano naval guns, together with the automatic ammunition loading system (Automatic Ammunition Handling System – AAHS) for standard and Vulcano ammunition, with the aim to modernise the four highly advanced air-defence and command frigates of the De Zeven Provinciën-class.

Damen Naval is building the four F126 class frigates together with its partners Blohm+Voss and Thales. Damen Naval was selected as successful bidder in 2020 following a European tender process spanning several years. The contract covers the delivery of initially four ships in the years 2028 to 2031 with an agreed option for a possible delivery of two more ships in the years after 2032. All building work will be carried out entirely in Germany at shipyards in Kiel, Hamburg and Wolgast.