KNDS has signed contracts worth around €400 million ($472 million) with Hensoldt for the supply of digital optronic and sighting systems for Germany’s armored vehicle and main battle tank fleets.
The primary contract, valued at approximately €290 million ($342 million), covers the delivery of 288 complete digital optronic sets for the Boxer RCT 30 armored vehicle.
Each system package includes the PERI RTWL HD commander’s sight, WAO HD gunner’s sight, the Multifunctional Self-Protection System, and integrated display units for real-time sensor visualization.
Germany has also awarded a procurement contract to a Rheinmetall–KNDS Deutschland joint venture for 150 Boxer infantry fighting vehicles, known as the Schakal, based on the GTK-Boxer chassis and equipped with the Puma APC turret system.
A separate agreement worth more than €110 million ($130 million) will see Hensoldt deliver 178 digital optronic suites for the Leopard 2 A8 main battle tank program.
These systems will comprise the PERI RTWL HD, FERO Z18 auxiliary gunner’s optic, Spectus II sensor head, ATTICA GL thermal imaging system, and the EMES OPO fire-control and rangefinding suite.
Altogether, Hensoldt will supply 301 digital sighting systems for the Leopard 2 fleet.
Deliveries are planned to commence in 2027, with Puma turret prototypes already delivered and series deliveries for the Schakal variant scheduled from Q4 2027.
The core component, the PERI RTWL digital commander’s sight, enables full-sphere surveillance and precision target acquisition during movement and in degraded environments such as low visibility, dust, fog, and night conditions.
The system architecture supports multi-platform integration, allowing deployment across a wide range of armored vehicles.
Paired with the commander’s optic, the WAO HD digital gunner’s sight replaces legacy analog systems and is built on a common digital framework, delivering high-definition imagery, wider fields of view, extended engagement ranges, and superior stabilization for improved combat accuracy.
