On Monday, February 2, 2026, the German company Hensoldt announced that it had received an order worth more than 100 million EUR from Diehl Defence to supply European users with TRML-4D multifunction radars as part of IRIS-T SLM air defense systems, in support of Germany’s European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).
TRML-4D radar on MAN 8×8 KAT 1 A1 chassis / Photo: Hensoldt
The contract covers the delivery of additional TRML-4D radars, including a maintenance and training package, to various European countries.
“There is enormous pent-up demand in European air defence, and the threats posed by air attacks are more complex and varied than they were a few years ago. Digital technologies – keyword ‘software-defined defence’ – are increasingly enabling existing capabilities to be linked, software-based modernisations to be rolled out and development cycles to be massively shortened. We are also working on this with our air defence radars, thereby increasing the efficiency and performance of our products,” says Markus Rothmaier, Head of Naval & Ground Radars at HENSOLDT.
The TRML-4D multifunction air defense radar has demonstrated, among other things, exceptionally strong performance in Ukraine (as part of German military assistance, under which 32–34 radars were delivered; one was destroyed by Russian forces on June 7, 2023 – editor’s note). The system is based on the latest AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) antenna technology. It provides rapid detection and tracking of around 1,500 targets at ranges of up to 250 km and is capable of quickly and reliably detecting, tracking, and classifying all types of aerial targets, including cruise missiles, drones, aircraft, and helicopters.
Hensoldt has many years of experience in air defense radar systems and is actively driving the further development of key technologies in this field. In addition to the TRML-4D radar, the company’s portfolio includes the short-range Spexer radar, the Twinvis passive radar, and radars for maritime and air traffic surveillance. Under the ESSI framework, Hensoldt already holds contracts for more than 150 radars of various types.
As noted, the TRML-4D radar serves as the primary sensor of the short- to medium-range IRIS-T SLM air and missile defense system. To date, standard ground-based systems (excluding Ukraine, which received them under German military assistance – editor’s note) have been ordered by Egypt, Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland, while Austria, Lithuania, and Romania have expressed interest in procurement.
The IRIS-T SLM system employs IRIS-T/TCV (Infra-Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) interceptor missiles, which are capable of engaging aerial targets using both Lock-On Before Launch (LOBL) and Lock-On After Launch (LOAL) modes and are equipped with proximity and impact fuzes. This enables engagements at ranges of up to 40 km and altitudes of up to 20 km.
@hensoldt has received #ESSI orders from @DiehlDefence worth over 100 million euros as part of the German European Sky Shield Initiative. The company is supplying additional TRML-4D high-performance radars to various European countries. More: https://t.co/TqEgTA2VnY #HENSOLDT pic.twitter.com/bQ2UWkJv5a
— HENSOLDT (@hensoldt) February 2, 2026
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