Rheinmetall Air Defence AG has entered into an agreement with Silvus Technologies, a leading innovator in radio frequency (RF) technology, to integrate its passive RF sensors into Rheinmetall’s ground-based air defence systems. The sensors provide a new layer of passive threat detection in Rheinmetall’s Skynex Air Defence System and Skymaster command and control platform by exploiting electromagnetic spectrum to enhance resilience and early threat awareness. Silvus Technologies’ RFeye sensors provide a complementary layer of passive detection to identify and locate aerial platforms without actively transmitting or revealing the sensors’ locations. Within the Skymaster platform, they supplement radar coverage by helping operators maintain a more complete, persistent air picture and recognized electromagnetic picture (REMP).
“Modern airspace is becoming more congested and more difficult to monitor, driven by the proliferation of unmanned aircraft and hard-to-detect aerial technologies,” said Roman Köhne, CEO, Rheinmetall Air Defence AG. “Traditional detection methods alone can struggle with identifying new and novel threats in complex operating conditions. Integrating passive RF sensing into Skymaster enhances air defenders’ ability to respond effectively to emerging aerial threats.”
“The agreement reflects a shared commitment to delivering resilient air defence systems for allied forces,” said Peter Moss, director of strategic NATO accounts, Silvus Technologies. “Combining RFeye technology and Rheinmetall’s air defence architecture gives operators critical situational awareness to inform quicker actions and safer decisions.”
Rheinmetall Air Defence division brings together all expertise in the field of ground-based air defence and is one of the world’s leading providers of complex air defence systems. It combines core capabilities ranging from development and production to simulation, training and comprehensive services. The aim is to provide modern, integrated solutions to protect against all airborne threats, from drones to highly manoeuvrable aerial targets. The division is grouped into the following business units: Systems and Effectors, and Systems and Sensors. Rheinmetall AG is a German arms manufacturer, headquartered in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The group was promoted to the DAX, Germany’s leading stock market index, in March 2023. It is the largest German and fifth-largest European arms manufacturer, and produces a variety of armored fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, in both wheeled and tracked versions. Furthermore, the company is one of the largest munitions manufacturers within NATO; it produces air defence systems and, since 2026, has also been building warships, including at the traditional Blohm+Voss shipyard. The company also manufactures loitering munitions.
Silvus Technologies is a global leader in advanced tactical networking and Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO). At the forefront of innovation for mission-critical applications, Silvus reshapes data-driven decision-making at the tactical edge with high-capacity MANET communications, intelligent spectrum awareness and electronic warfare resiliency. Through its battle-proven StreamCaster family of MANET radios and proprietary MN-MIMO waveform, Silvus provides robust, high-throughput connectivity for defense and public safety agencies in some of the world’s most complex environments. By expanding beyond traditional communications with advanced signals intelligence solutions, Silvus delivers comprehensive EMSO capabilities—enabling operators to sense, manage and defend their communications within a contested spectrum. Headquartered in Los Angeles and driven by a team of world-class PhD scientists and engineers, Silvus continues to define the future of the tactical ecosystem with proven range, scalability and interference mitigation.
