DIEHL DEFENCE and HENSOLDT develop top-class software-defined air defence systems and intensify cooperation

‘We are not the only ones working to obtain a better and more up-to-date picture of the situation. Our potential adversaries are also striving to increase their efficiency through faster reconnaissance and combat,’ explained Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence. Therefore, it is sometimes advisable to change one's position after a shot or a volley. The speed at which this happens is important. ‘We are working on fully automated processes and at least semi-autonomous vehicles so that we can change position as quickly as possible despite reduced personnel deployment. AI-supported environment perception and planning algorithms are used here,’ he adds.

Oliver Dörre, CEO of HENSOLDT, said: "Digital technologies – keyword “software-defined defence” – are increasingly enabling us to link existing capabilities, roll out software-based modernisations and massively shorten development cycles. We combine the expertise of two high-tech companies whose products are regarded as benchmarks worldwide. By jointly developing software-defined systems, we are multiplying the defensive effectiveness of air defence and thus contributing to the development of a sovereign European defence capability."

The threats posed by air attacks are more complex and varied than they were just a few years ago. While aircraft and helicopters were considered the greatest danger in the past, the spectrum of threats has now expanded significantly. In addition to cruise missiles, supersonic and hypersonic missiles and drones, ballistic missiles in particular have created a new problem for air defence. Diehl Defence and HENSOLDT aim to overcome these challenges through the optimal interaction of weapon systems.

Diehl Defence and HENSOLDT have been working together for many years in the field of ground-based air defence systems. Diehl Defence has integrated Airbus' IBMS-FC combat management software and active and passive radars from HENSOLDT into its medium-range system (IRIS-T SLM), which has been put into series production and delivered.

As first steps towards deeper cooperation and further development of IRIS-T SLM, the two companies have identified AI-based target detection in the TRML-4D fire control radar and the fusion of sensor data from a wide variety of sources, as well as AI-supported environment awareness and planning algorithms and simulation techniques.