HENSOLDT has installed the first TRL-4D LR long-range surveillance radar at Brockzetel in northern Germany as part of the German Air Force’s ongoing radar modernization program.
The deployment falls under the HADR NF initiative, launched in 2021 to replace the legacy Hughes Air Defence Radar network used for monitoring German airspace.
Under the program, four TRL-4D LR/ROT radar systems are expected to enter operational service by the end of the decade.
Deployment Process
The radar system was positioned at the “Bunker Balduin” site in Brockzetel following extensive transportation and infrastructure preparation activities.
HENSOLDT stated that key radar components arrived at the facility in March 2026 and were subsequently assembled on an existing steel tower structure.
Installation teams mounted the main antenna, which weighs roughly 13 tonnes, before adding a secondary antenna and enclosing the radar within a radome more than 13 meters wide.
Interim Radar Capability
The Brockzetel radar installation is intended to provide a temporary operational capability until permanent reinforced concrete radar towers are constructed.
Preparations for the interim arrangement began in 2022 and involved cooperation among the German Air Force, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, local construction authorities, and subcontracting partners.
The TRL-4D LR radar uses active electronically scanned array technology to deliver enhanced long-range detection and airspace monitoring performance.
The broader modernization effort reflects Germany’s push to reinforce its air defense and surveillance infrastructure amid rising security tensions in Europe.
