Sensor specialist HENSOLDT has secured more than 100 million euros ($118.1 million) in radar contracts tied to the German‑led European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).
Under agreements with Diehl Defence, HENSOLDT will supply additional TRML‑4D high‑performance radars — along with maintenance and training packages — for deployment with IRIS‑T SLM air defense systems in several ESSI member states.
These radars, based on advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array technology, can detect, track and classify a wide range of aerial threats including cruise missiles, rockets, drones, and aircraft.
The company said ESSI has created strong demand for linked sensor and missile systems, and that digital, software‑defined modular designs are helping compress development cycles and improve performance across the initiative’s radar portfolio.
HENSOLDT already holds contracts for more than 150 radars of various types under the ESSI umbrella, reflecting expanded roles for its TRML-4D, Spexer short‑range, and Twinvis passive radars in European air defense networks.
Procurements Under ESSI
HENSOLDT’s latest radar order is part of a broader European effort under ESSI, where multiple countries and defense companies have signed contracts in recent years to expand and modernize continental air defense capabilities.
Latvia and Slovenia signed contracts in July 2024 under the ESSI framework for HENSOLDT’s TRML‑4D radars to be deployed alongside IRIS‑T SLM systems supplied by Diehl Defence, marking early major ESSI radar deliveries.
Cooperative procurement agreements for IRIS‑T SLM systems continued in 2025, with Switzerland signing program agreements with Germany to jointly acquire five medium‑range ground‑based air defense systems from Diehl Defence under ESSI.
Slovenia also concluded a follow‑on procurement in August 2025, agreeing to buy two additional IRIS‑T SLM fire units through ESSI, which include radars, tactical operations centers, guided missiles, and logistic elements as part of a coordinated approach to enhance NATO‑compatible air defense.
In December 2025, Denmark signed a contract with Diehl Defence to procure additional IRIS‑T SLM fire units under the initiative, expanding its medium‑range ground‑based air defense footprint and strengthening protection for both military assets and critical infrastructure.
