HENSOLDT has installed the first TRL-4D LR long-range air surveillance radar at the Brockzetel site in northern Germany as part of the German Air Force’s effort to upgrade its ground-based radar network.
The system is being fielded under the HADR NF program, launched in 2021 to replace the aging Hughes Air Defence Radar infrastructure used for national airspace surveillance.
Four TRL-4D LR/ROT systems are expected to enter service by 2030.
Transport and Installation
The newly installed system was deployed at the “Bunker Balduin” facility in Brockzetel following several weeks of transport and site preparation.
Major components of the radar were transported to the “Bunker Balduin” facility in March 2026 before being assembled on an existing steel lattice tower, HENSOLDT explained.
The primary antenna, weighing around 13 tonnes, was mounted before crews installed a secondary antenna and enclosed the system within a radome measuring more than 13 meters (42 feet) in diameter.
Interim Solution
The Brockzetel installation will serve as an interim solution until permanent concrete radar towers are completed.
Planning for the temporary setup began in 2022 and involved coordination between the German Air Force, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), regional construction authorities, and subcontractors.
Developed using active electronically scanned array technology, the TRL-4D LR is designed to provide long-range airspace surveillance and tracking capabilities.
The program is part of Germany’s wider push to strengthen air defense and surveillance capabilities amid heightened security concerns across Europe.
