Rafael, Hensoldt to Develop Electronic Warfare Capabilities for German Eurofighter Jets

Israel’s Rafael has teamed up with German company HENSOLDT to offer a solution to the Air Force’s (Luftwaffe) requirement of airborne electronic warfare capabilities with Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in 2028.

The exclusive teaming agreement was signed in Tel Aviv on the 18th of October, by Thomas Müller, CEO HENSOLDT, and Maj. Gen (ret.) Yoav Har-Even, President and CEO of RAFAEL.

RAFAEL and HENSOLDT agreed to embark on a joint endeavor to integrate and enhance RAFAEL’s Sky Shield airborne electronic warfare pod as a mature off-the-shelf Escort Jammer (ESJ), with the latest airborne electronic attack national sensitive technology (KALÆTRON Attack) by HENSOLDT. This new capability supports the Luftwaffe’s decision to adapt the Eurofighter Typhoon into an electronic attack platform. The new EA pod utilizes the existing interfaces of the Litening Pod, already combat-proven on the Typhoon, thus significantly simplifying the integration efforts and saving invaluable resources.

Together, RAFAEL and HENSOLDT bring the necessary experience not only as solution providers for ESJ, but also in the program environment of the Eurofighter and related integration and certification processes.

HENSOLDT has developed the “Kalaetron Attack” Airborne Jamming System which recently confirmed its effectiveness against various enemy air defense radars. It is part of HENSOLDT’s fully digital ‘Kalaetron’ product family, which is used in self-protection and signal intelligence systems in the German armed forces. In addition to cognitive software elements, the core comprises a fully digitized, broadband sensor and an electronically controllable, software defined jammer. Metallic 3D printing enabled a condensed design of the electronic components so that the jammer can be easily integrated into pod formats commonly used worldwide or directly into bodies of various flying platforms. The system’s effectiveness and responsiveness are also based on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, which enable the classification of unknown threats in the field and the rapid evaluation of large amounts of data.

RAFAEL’s Sky Shield Escort Jammer is a military-off-the-shelf solution already delivered to several customers worldwide, therefore allowing for easy integration onto fast jet platforms. By using AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) technology, the single wideband jamming pod covers present and future high frequency range while providing a High Effective Radiation Power (ERP). Sky Shield is able to generate simultaneous jamming and deception transmissions against multiple threats. Some of RAFAEL’s airborne solutions are in service in Germany, including the LITENING and RECCELITE Electro-Optic pods on the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter Typhoon.