Rohde & Schwarz has been commissioned to supply and integrate systems for communications and radar electronic support measures (C-ESM/R-ESM) from the R&S KORA family for the German Navy’s F124 Sachsen class frigates, making a significant contribution to platform protection. Following approval by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag, the contract was signed on 18 October in Koblenz with the German Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use (BAAINBw) of the German Armed Forces. The R&S KORA systems procured for these frigates are an integrated, proven, and constantly evolving detection and analysis system for emissions, such as communication and radar, with extended capabilities for electromagnetic support and countermeasures. R&S KORA 40 will be installed on three F124 frigates, as well as on three land systems. The system enables crews to detect, identify, track and analyze both complex and wideband radar emissions, as well as communications signals. R&S KORA 40 provides the ship’s command with a comprehensive situational awareness picture, covering the entire electromagnetic spectrum with high sensitivity and long range, in near real-time.
“The German Armed Forces rely on R&S KORA, a state-of-the-art, commercially available family of systems concept, to effectively leverage synergies. Following the F125 class frigates and the recently expanded F126 class frigates, now increased to six units, as well as a boat class as a key capability carrier, the important air defense frigates of the F124 class are now also benefiting from this approach. Rohde & Schwarz has a long-standing and successful partnership with our national customer, having collaborated closely across all branches of the military. Radiocommunications, encryption, reconnaissance and self-protection all rely on comprehensive mastery of the electromagnetic spectrum in both hardware and software. The innovative solutions in R&S KORA provide the German Navy with cutting-edge, cross-functional, cutting-edge technology along with user-friendliness, personnel efficiency and cost-effectiveness over the entire service life. Recently, the Polish Navy also procured R&S KORA for its Miecznik class frigates,” Alexander Philipp, Managing Director, Rohde & Schwarz Vertriebs-GmbH explains.
The system is complemented by a component for electromagnetic countermeasures (R-ECM) for self-protection. R&S KORA replaces the previous electronic warfare systems and is intended to serve until the expected end of the service life of these frigates or their replacement by a successor class. The systems and components are manufactured at the Rohde & Schwarz factories in Bavaria, as well as at the expanding Maritime Competence Center North in Kiel/Hamburg, integrated onboard the ships, and accompanied throughout their long-term operation. As part of the procurement, the Navy also receives the necessary training and reference equipment. The integration into the ships themselves will be carried out through additional shipbuilding contracts. Today, in addition to the German Navy, more than 40 navies around the world rely on scalable, modular and adaptable solutions from Rohde & Schwarz to connect and protect naval forces of all dimensions.
Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity Divisions. For 90 years, the global technology group has pushed technical boundaries with developments in cutting-edge technologies. The company’s leading-edge products and solutions empower industrial, regulatory and government customers to attain technological and digital sovereignty. The privately owned, Munich based company can act independently, long-term and sustainably. Rohde & Schwarz generated net revenue of EUR 2.78 billion in the 2022/2023 fiscal year (July to June). On June 30, 2023, Rohde & Schwarz had around 13,800 employees worldwide. R&S® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.
