KNDS has awarded Hensoldt contracts worth around 400 million euros ($472 million) to supply digital optronic systems for German armored personnel carriers and main battle tanks.
Under the first contract, valued at approximately 290 million euros ($342 million), Hensoldt will deliver 288 complete sets of digital optronics for Boxer RCT 30 wheeled armored vehicles.
Each set includes the PERI RTWL HD digital commander’s sight, the WAO HD digital gunner’s sight, the Multifunctional Self-Protection System, and associated monitors for displaying video feeds.
Germany recently awarded a contract to a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland for the procurement of 150 Boxer infantry fighting vehicles, designated Schakal.
The Schakal is based on the GTK-Boxer platform with the turret system of the Puma armored personnel carrier.
To Equip Leopard 2
Under a separate contract worth more than 110 million euros ($130 million), Hensoldt will deliver 178 sets of digital optronics to equip Leopard 2 A8 main battle tanks.
These include the PERI RTWL HD, the FERO Z18 auxiliary gunner’s sight, the Spectus II sensor head, the ATTICA GL thermal imaging device, and the EMES OPO rangefinding and fire-control system.
In total, Hensoldt will supply 301 sets of digital sighting systems for the Leopard 2 fleet.
Delivery of the sensor packages is set to begin in 2027. Prototypes of the digital sighting systems for the Puma turret have already been delivered, with series deliveries for the Schakal scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2027.
“The parallel orders for Schakal and Leopard 2 A8 show that digital optronics are now a key enabler for Software-Defined Defence,” Head of Optronics at Hensoldt, Christina Canitz, said.
“With our cross-platform, software-enabled vision systems, we are laying the foundation for networked, future-proof combat vehicles and sustainably strengthening the operational readiness of modern armed forces.”
Digital Optronics
The PERI RTWL digital commander’s sight is the core element of the system, providing precise all-round surveillance and target acquisition while on the move and under challenging conditions such as dust, fog, and darkness.
The system is designed for cross-platform integration, allowing flexible deployment across different combat vehicles.
The PERI RTWL HD is paired with the WAO HD digital gunner’s sight, developed as the successor to a legacy analog system and built on the same digital architecture.
The WAO HD delivers high-resolution video output, a wider field of view to extend effective engagement ranges, and improved stabilization for enhanced accuracy.
