Rheinmetall Air Defence has awarded Hensoldt a $108.2 million contract to equip the new Skyranger 30 gun tank system with the Spexer 2000 air defense radar.
The radar will be integrated with the German and Austrian builds of the FlakPz gun tank, the latest Rheinmetall turret system engineered to neutralize low-flying enemy aircraft. Hensoldt said that once the sensor systems are installed, the Skyranger 30 is expected to enhance its capability to track and hit moving or flying targets.
The Spexer radar boasts automatic detection and classification of ground, sea and air targets. It is designed as an optimal solution for coastal surveillance capable of detecting small and slowly moving maritime threats.
The latest order was finalized under the 2023 framework agreement between Rheinmetall and Hensoldt to deploy the Spexer 2000M 3D MkIII radar on Skyranger 30 turret systems used in various European tanks.
According to an Army Technology report, the Spexer radar could expand Rheinmetall’s footprint across European defense forces. The company has an existing agreement with Hungary to supply the FlakPz gun tank for the Lynx KF41 mobile air defense vehicle. Denmark has also reported interest in acquiring the systems.