Hensoldt has secured a contract to enhance the sensor capabilities of 90 German Fennek armored reconnaissance vehicles.
The deal is part of the armed forces’ objective to address the platforms’ outdated intelligence functions in a short period of time and maintain the fleet’s operability.
Under the project, the Taufkirchen-based firm will deliver and integrate new sensor packages that incorporate the company’s next-generation “BAA” observation and reconnaissance technology that combines a thermal imager, light-sensitive camera, and a laser rangefinder/target designator.
Its modular design allows users to mount the system onto existing command and information systems or a tripod.
Hensoldt will cover 30 Fenneks in the scout variant, 50 from the Joint Fire Support Team, and 10 from the recirculating reserve, which will eventually provide spare parts as the repairs are implemented.
Meanwhile, two additional Fenneks will be transported to German industry partner KNDS Deutschland for associated integration and verification management.
The firm said the entire effort will cost in the “mid-double-digit million range,” with services expected to be completed by 2026.
“With the upgrade of the Fennek vehicles to the BAA III sensor package, we are setting a new standard in military reconnaissance,” Hensoldt Optronics & Land Solutions Head Tanya Altmann stated.
“The integrated, high-precision systems offer the user superior sensor performance and make the decisive difference in complex operational scenarios. As a technology partner, we are proud to contribute to the operational capability of our armed forces with state-of-the-art optoelectronics.”
The Fennek Reconnaissance System
The Fennek measures 6 meters (20 feet) long and is operated by a crew of three.
Depending on its variant, the system could weigh up to 10.4 tons (22,046 pounds) and carry armaments including a 40-millimeter grenade autocannon or a 12.7-millimeter machine gun.
The Fennek is powered by a 239-horsepower Deutz diesel engine for a top speed of 115 kilometers (71 miles) per hour and a range of 860 kilometers (534 miles).