Abu Dhabi. HENSOLDT South Africa (SA) is presenting its latest spectrum dominance, optronics and radar solutions at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from February 20 to 24, 2023. With more than 60 000 visitors expected at the 30th edition of the event, HENSOLDT is focusing on the global market, as well as the Middle East as a key strategic market.
IDEX provides a significant platform to highlight HENSOLDT SA’s local design, manufacturing and technological capability, whilst increasing value-added exports to the UAE, Middle East region and globally.
While HENSOLDT SA exports its solutions to more than 45 countries across the world, the Middle East is considered a strategic market for South Africa, especially in the defence and security sector. HENSOLDT will participate in IDEX alongside 10 other South African companies that operate in the defence industry.
IDEX will be the stage for HENSOLDT’s latest South African products and solutions for land, sea and air:
Airborne Solutions
Providing the ultimate electro-optical advantage, the ARGOS-8 compact electro-optical system, and the ASTUS UAV sensor platform is showcased.
Based on the international sales success of the ARGOS-II and with a view of entering the smaller and lighter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market, the ARGOS-8 was launched at AAD in 2022. The ARGOS-8 is an 8-inch gimbal, weighing only 6 kg and is equipped with laser designator and range-finder capability. “ARGOS-8 is not only offered as a stand-alone EOS but is also integrated onto the ASTUS unmanned aerial system, with production deliveries scheduled for 2023,” says Deon Olivier, Chief Executive of HENSOLDT SA Optronics.
The ASTUS unmanned aerial vehicle system (UAS) is a sensor platform designed to protect critical infrastructure and high-value assets from the air. The ASTUS can be equipped with smart electro-optical payloads for advanced surveillance capabilities, ideal for long-distance surveillance, border patrol and protection of high-value infrastructure and critical assets.
Land EW Solutions
As part of its land-based EW and spectrum dominance business, HENSOLDT SA will showcase its newest radar electronic support system, the GEW® RES9000, which boasts innovative and compact emitter-classification and intelligence-gathering capability. The RES9000 complements HENSOLDT’s extensive tactical electronic warfare portfolio, where collected information on surface-based and airborne radars can now be fused with intercepted electronic communications information, providing a collated and concise overview of the electronic order-of-battle (EOB).
Recently introduced to reliably counter the new and emerging signals that have reshaped the electronic battlefield, HENSOLDT’s latest-generation GEW® GRJ series of high-performance communications electronic attack (jamming) solutions will also be featured at IDEX. “Unrivalled in its ability to suppress modern HF, V/UHF and SHF communications, the GRJ jammers feature the most advanced signal attack methods on the market,” says Christo Fouché, Chief Executive Sales and Marketing of HENSOLDT SA’s spectrum dominance business.
Radar Solutions
Launched for naval applications in 2021 and for land deployment in 2022, Quadome is a dual-mode, multi-mission surveillance radar for air- and surface-surveillance, providing naval, military and security authorities with unprecedented situational awareness and extremely short reaction times. It features state-of-the-art technology and is software-defined, thus being a future-proof solution with an extended operational lifetime. “Quadome is designed to maximise system performance with the latest technology, while minimising acquisition and life-cycle costs,” says Bennie Langenhoven, Chief Executive of HENSOLDT SA Radar.
HENSOLDT SA in the Middle East
HENSOLDT South Africa builds on a strong relationship of almost two decades with customers in the Middle East. Major deliveries spanning two decades resulted in the establishment of various in-country commercial and support offices across the region, providing a platform for HENSOLDT SA to expand in the region as a reputable partner for defence and security solutions. HENSOLDT SA has put into service numerous signal intelligence and electronic warfare solutions for defence customers throughout the region and is notably a strategic partner to the Saudi Arabian telecommunications regulatory authority since 2019 for the implementation of nationwide spectrum management and monitoring solutions. HENSOLDT SA has also collaborated with key partners on the delivery of airborne electro-optical systems in Saudi Arabia since 2016, and going forward, HENSOLDT’s local presence will serve as a vehicle towards future partnerships on these technologies.
“As the Middle East is rapidly advancing its self-reliance, localisation and technological readiness across its defence industry, HENSOLDT South Africa welcomes the opportunity to further grow in this key market, while supporting the long-term vision of the country in which it operates,” says Rynier van der Watt, Managing Director of HENSOLDT South Africa.
IDEX attendees are invited to visit HENSOLDT on stand 08-B13.
