Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has received an order from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) worth nearly 75 million euros to equip the Royal Netherlands Army's “Fennek” armored reconnaissance vehicles with visual systems. The scope of the order includes 188 BAA II NL observation and reconnaissance systems as well as a number of spare parts.
“Our optronic solutions combine sensors from different technologies to provide armored vehicle crews with an excellent situational awareness,” said Andreas Hülle, CEO of HENSOLDT Optronics.
“In the field, this capability is essential to fulfil the mission and ensure the protection of the crews,” he added.
The BAA II NL is the logical further development of the BAA II JFST, which is already in use in the Joint Fire Support Team (JFST) of the German Armed Forces. The external dimensions have remained the same and the use and menu navigation have also been left unchanged in order to keep the training effort for the crew as low as possible.
The scope of the contract also includes adjustments to the YellowKite camera, which will be optimized to become a day-vision/near-infrared (NIR) camera with color vision and will receive a near-infrared cut filter. In addition, HENSOLDT provides a digital outlet.
HENSOLDT will deliver the observation and reconnaissance systems to Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), which will handle the integration of the BAA II NL and its command and control system into the Fennek reconnaissance vehicles. Deliveries to KMW will begin in autumn 2022 with the qualification systems. Series delivery will start in 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
HENSOLDT is a German champion in the defense industry with a leading market position in Europe and a global reach. Headquartered in Taufkirchen near Munich/Germany, the company develops sensor solutions for defense and security applications. As a technology leader, HENSOLDT also continuously expands its Cyber portfolio and develops new products to combat a wide range of threats based on innovative approaches to data management, robotics and cybersecurity.
With more than 5,600 employees, HENSOLDT generated revenues of 1.2 billion euros in 2020.
A company of the Franco-German defense technology group KNDS, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) leads the European market for highly protected wheeled and tracked vehicles. At locations in Germany, Brazil, Greece, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the USA and Turkey more than 4.000 employees develop, manufacture and support a product portfolio ranging from air-transportable, highly protected wheeled vehicles, through reconnaissance, anti-aircraft and artillery systems, to main battle tanks (LEOPARD 1 and 2), infantry fighting vehicles (PUMA) and bridge laying systems.
In addition, KMW has wide-ranging system competence in the area of civil and military simulation, as well as in command and information systems and remote-controlled weapon stations with reconnaissance and observation equipment. The armed forces of more than 50 nations worldwide rely on tactical systems by KMW.
