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| Rafale and Hensoldt Collaborate to Develop New EW System for the Eurofighter Typhoon |
International Military - Israel's Rafael and specialist German sensors company Hensoldt have teamed up to develop a new electronic warfare (EW) capability for the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). The two companies will integrate and upgrade Rafael's EW Sky Shield pod as an escort jammer (ESJ) with Hensoldt's newest airborne electronic attack sensitive technology, the Kalaetron Assault Jammer.
The initial operational capability of this system is planned to operate in 2028. The signing of the collaboration between the two companies was held in Tel Aviv on October 18. The combined capability system will enable the Luftwaffe to adapt the Eurofighter Typhoon as an electronic attack aircraft (EA).
“The new EA Pod uses the existing Litening Pod interface, which was proven in the battle on Typhoon, significantly simplifying integration efforts and saving invaluable resources,” the company said as reported by Defense News.
Rafael makes the Litening and Reccelite targeting and reconnaissance pods which are already in use on the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter Typhoon and on other NATO member aircraft. The cooperation between Israeli companies and German companies has been established for a long time.
Previously, Rafael already had a foothold in the German defense market. The Trophy active protection system has been installed on German tanks and has created a new Germany-based company for system sales and production with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and General Dynamics European Land Systems.
Rafael also sells the EuroSpike in Germany in a joint venture with Diehl Defense GmbH and Rheinmetall Electronics. Meanwhile Rafael has partnered with Atos on a glass battlefield program that provides a three-dimensional image for mobile operations.