The Technical Diagnostic Cell (TDC) in Laage near Rostock has been in existence for 20 years this year. Based directly at the German Air Force base, HENSOLDT Services helps to keep the German Eurofighter fleet operational. In particular, customer proximity has created trust and long-standing relationships over the years. The use of automated diagnostic procedures and advanced tools, combined with customer proximity, was uncharted territory at the time. The multi-role combat aircraft Eurofighter has been in service in Europe and numerous export nations since 2003. However, the TDC in Laage is of particular importance here, because it allows all components of the radar and the self-protection system to be repaired on site within a very short time and approved for flight operations. The model served as a blueprint for all subsequent TDCs: just six months later, the Technical Diagnostic Cell in the UK was set up using the same model, followed by Spain and Italy. The Technical Diagnostic Cell concept is also being applied outside of Europe. Within Germany, another TDC was set up in Neuburg an der Donau in 2011 to support the country’s ever-growing aircraft fleet with the same standards of efficiency, service quality and customer focus.
More specifically, the TDCs of Hensoldt Services act as a direct partner of the German Air Force on-site and take over a malfunctioning device removed from the aircraft via the shortest route for fast and targeted repair. Our technicians in the TDCs are supported by Hensoldt’s own diagnostic and test systems. In the background, logistics teams, technicians and engineers from Ulm work to supply the TDCs with spare parts and continuous technical expertise. In this way, we support the on-site staff in carrying out even complex repairs efficiently and with consistently high quality. In tandem, the two TDCs in Laage and Neuburg an der Donau support the entire German Eurofighter fleet. In total, there are about 20 radar and ESM/ECM-related line replaceable items (LRIs) in the Eurofighter, that is, main assemblies that are repaired in our local workshops. From the outset, the key to the success of the model was the rapid repair of LRIs. The targeted replacement of defective subassemblies from the LRIs makes it possible to reduce aircraft downtime to a minimum while also reducing costs. This method is particularly advantageous for large and complex assemblies such as the CAPTOR radar or the PRAETORIAN self-protection system, and it conserves resources because only small subassemblies have to be transported for more extensive repair. The service staff in the TDCs not only repair HENSOLDT LRIs, but also the LRIs of the partner companies Indra, Elettronica and Leonardo, which are also participating in the CAPTOR and PRAETORIAN joint projects. The defective LRIs identified during the repair process are always returned to the respective manufacturer for repair.
Depending on how critical the situation is – for example, on the eastern border – the use of the German Eurofighters increases and with it, of course, the need for repairs. The high level of commitment of TDC employees makes it possible to react flexibly to such changes. This flexibility was proven during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the TDC was never closed. Defects include electrical faults, damage, mechanical damage and corrosion. The 20th anniversary is a milestone in the support of complex systems such as the Eurofighter. What once began as a novelty has developed into a frequently adapted concept. The efficiency that was made possible by the rapid exchange of subassemblies continues to have staying power: upgrades such as the DP4 package on the Praetorian self-protection system, the extension to an E-scan radar or even the possibility of supporting further systems, underpin the TDC’s concept for the future.
HENSOLDT is a leading company in the European defence industry with a global reach. Based in Taufkirchen near Munich, the company develops complete sensor solutions for defence and security applications. As a system integrator, HENSOLDT offers platform-independent, networked solutions. Being a technology leader, the company is also driving forward the development of defence electronics and optronics and is continuously expanding its portfolio based on innovative approaches to data fusion, artificial intelligence and cyber security. In 2023, HENSOLDT achieved a turnover of 1.85 billion euros. Following the acquisition of ESG GmbH, the company employs around 8,000 people. HENSOLDT is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the MDAX.
