Rheinmetall Air Defence and Hensoldt have succeeded in integrating the latter’s Twinvis passive radar into the former’s Skymaster command and weapon engagement system.
The development was demonstrated during the German Air Force’s Timber Express 2026 exercise in Manching, where the combined system operated under realistic Nato networking conditions and controlled the Skynex Air Defence battery.
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In a joint statement, the companies stated the integration enabled the air picture created by the Twinvis passive radar to be fused and correlated within Skymaster, with data shared via Nato’s Link 16 tactical data network.
This setup allowed the generation of a unified, comprehensive air surveillance picture by combining active and passive radar data with electro-optical sensor inputs.
During the trial, Hensoldt’s Twinvis passive radar performed successfully in detecting and tracking airborne targets. The radar, which is based on modern digital technology, can be deployed from military airspace surveillance to civil air traffic control.
The Skymaster system was also able to integrate data from both active and passive radar sensors, as well as electro-optical sensors, to produce a consolidated air picture within the air defence network.
This approach supports low-emission air surveillance and emissions control strategies, while also enhancing situational awareness to protect key infrastructure, sensitive sites, and mobile military assets.
The results from the trial support potential integration of the technology into fixed Skynex systems, mobile Skyranger platforms, and counter-uncrewed aerial system solutions such as Skyspotter.
“The demonstration highlights the future viability of distributed and interconnected sensor networks and illustrates how passive sensor technologies can usefully extend and complement existing air defence systems,” Rheinmetall stated in its release.
“Furthermore, passive systems increase network survivability due to the absence of a distinctive identification,” it added.
