The Hensoldt Group has just launched a new electronic warfare (EW) solution called Taervus, which is a fully integrated system that brings together advanced radio direction finders, receivers, jammers and its Spectrum Battle Management Suite. Hensoldt South Africa is responsible for a significant part of this portfolio.
Taervus, revealed by Hensoldt last week, is described as a cross-domain system solution for modern electromagnetic warfare. Its different elements have been field proven over many years but are now presented under a unified name. Taervus covers both COMINT (communications intelligence) and ELINT (electronic intelligence) in the HF, VHF and UHF ranges up to higher microwave bands and offers jamming capabilities against enemy communications and radar systems. The name, which is composed of the Latin words Terra for earth and Corvus for crow, reflects the system’s self-image and identity as a land EW solution, while the crow, as the symbolic animal of electromagnetic warfare, also has a firm place in this product, the company said.
“Taervus combines solutions for tactical and strategic reconnaissance of the enemy with the ability to effectively jam enemy communications systems. It comprises holistic sensor and system solutions in which modular, software-defined and networked systems operate in conjunction with each other. Among other things, the integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) supports signal analysis, enables semi-automatic classification and prioritisation of detected signals, and opens up capabilities such as ‘predictive jamming’, in which jamming measures are optimised in an anticipatory and situation-dependent manner,” Hensoldt said.
The company explained the need for such a system on modern battlefields is undisputed: “In an environment where the speed and quality of information are decisive, Taervus enables its users to significantly shorten the so-called OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). This capability provides the user with early, accurate information on the enemy’s position, allowing them to make tactical decisions faster and more accurately than their opponent.”
“Those who act faster than their opponents and simultaneously disrupt their information gathering capabilities secure a decisive advantage on the battlefield,” said Dr Torben Brack, Vice President and Head of Cyberspace & EW at Hensoldt.
Taervus seamlessly integrates multiple systems into a system of systems. Its modular design allows it to be used in a variety of projects and guarantees that the user receives not only individual components, but comprehensive system capability. This innovative solution makes a significant contribution to securing the often life-saving information advantage in combat, thereby increasing the chances of success in any scenario, Hensoldt said.
Typical Taervus system components include a signal exciter with integrated wideband receiver; complex waveform and scenario generator; high-power RF amplifiers; standard TX/RX antenna suite; Spectrum Battle Management Software (SBMS); and optional communications ES subsystem. These allow multi-band, multi-target jamming; efficient frequency-hopping radio jamming; and reactive, library-based jamming with technique agility.
Taervus portable electromagnetic attack solutions are designed for manpack and portable use. Other solutions are designed for installation in armoured personnel carriers (APCs), or integrated into shelter configurations.
Although Taervus was launched on a Hensoldt group level, Hensoldt South Africa’s GEW business unit is responsible for a significant part of this portfolio.
Hensoldt South Africa, the Group’s largest industrial base outside of Germany with 800 South African employees across four sites, has three main operating units: Optronics, GEW, and Radar.
The GEW business unit specialises in communication monitoring and jamming, direction finding, electronic countermeasures/warfare, electromagnetic spectrum management and security systems. Since the 1960s the company has been involved in providing electronic support, electronic attack and electronic warfare solutions. Its signal intelligence and spectrum monitoring systems have been sold and are in operation in more than 30 countries worldwide, including with the South African Air Force, Army and Navy, and the spectrum regulatory body, ICASA. The company’s jamming systems are used to protect fixed targets, convoys, individual vehicles and foot patrols (manpack system) against remotely controlled improvised explosive devices and other threats, such as the roadside bombs.
Hensoldt South Africa is also active in the fields of airspace surveillance, and security systems, particularly perimeter and border fencing systems with integrated alerting systems to localise a breach. Such systems have been successfully used to counter wildlife poaching.
Hensoldt South Africa is increasing its involvement in the radar, data link, identification friend or foe (IFF), customer services and business development fields, amongst many others. Its Radar Business Unit offers 3D radar, synthetic aperture radar, radar for counter-UAV operations and passive radar. One of the biggest radar projects in South Africa in recent years is Hensoldt South Africa’s Quadome dual-mode, three-dimensional (3D), multi-mission radar for air and surface surveillance as well as target acquisition. This has already attracted its first export customer, the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
