×

Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Space Air Cargo

Home- Stories

HENSOLDT, DFS to Certify Twinvis Radar for Civil Aviation

Our Bureau - : Oct 2, 2024 - : 9:36 pm

HENSOLDT, a sensor solution provider, has partnered with DFS, the German air navigation service provider, to advance the use of its Twinvis passive radar technology for civil aviation. The two organisations have signed a cooperation agreement with the objective of certifying the system for civil applications by the end of 2026.

Twinvis is a passive radar system that utilises advanced digital technology for both long-range military airspace surveillance and civil air traffic control. Unlike conventional radar, which transmits signals, passive radar solely acts as a receiver, locating targets by analysing reflected signals from existing third-party transmitters. This capability allows for covert surveillance over large areas, making it difficult for adversaries to detect or jam the system.

To explore the feasibility of Twinvis for civil air traffic control, two studies funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) have been conducted. One of the studies involved installing the Twinvis system near Frankfurt Airport. HENSOLDT and DFS collaborated on these studies, and the tests conducted at various national airports demonstrated the technology’s effectiveness. The non-rotating passive radar antenna, combined with Twinvis software, allows for real-time updates on the positions of detected aircraft, ensuring accurate tracking of fast-moving aerial targets such as sailplanes and military aircraft.

“The studies demonstrated that passive radar is also highly effective for safeguarding civil air traffic,” said HENSOLDT CEO Oliver Dörre. “Having already been successfully deployed in the military sector, the system also offers significant market potential for air traffic control.”

The passive radar technology is particularly appealing from an air traffic management perspective, as it is expected to be more robust and less maintenance-intensive than traditional radar systems. Currently, DFS operates around 30 radar facilities across Germany that rely on large rotating primary radar systems. The introduction of passive radar may provide a powerful and resource-efficient alternative for these facilities.

In preparation for future applications, DFS is developing concepts for integrating passive radar data into its existing infrastructure. As part of this initiative, a Twinvis system will be installed near Stuttgart Airport before the end of the year.

“We are looking forward to the joint trials at the Stuttgart site with great interest,” said Friedrich-Wilhelm Menge, Chief Technology Officer on the DFS Executive Board. “Following successful certification, we see potential for the future use of this technology.”

MORE NEWS

Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.

Popular Posts

Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.

Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us