Hensoldt Optronics to provide sight systems for Dutch army Fennek armored vehicles


Sensor solutions provider Hensoldt has received an order from Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW) worth nearly 75 million euros to equip the Royal Netherlands Army's “Fennek” armored reconnaissance vehicles with visual systems. The scope of the order includes 188 BAA II NL observation and reconnaissance systems as well as a number of spare parts.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link


Army Recognition Global Defense and Security news
Sensor solutions provider Hensoldt has received an order from Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW) worth nearly 75 million euros to equip the Royal Netherlands Army's “Fennek” armored reconnaissance vehicles with sight systems (Picture source: Hensoldt)


“Our optronic solutions combine sensors from different technologies to provide armored vehicle crews with excellent situational awareness,” said Andreas Hülle, CEO of Hensoldt Optronics. “In the field, this capability is essential to fulfill the mission and ensure the protection of the crews.”

The BAA II NL is the logical further development of the BAA II JFST, which is already in use in the Joint Fire Support Team (JFST) of the German Armed Forces. The external dimensions have remained the same and the use and menu navigation have also been left unchanged in order to keep the training effort for the crew as low as possible.

The scope of the contract also includes adjustments to the YellowKite camera, which will be optimized to become a day-vision/near-infrared (NIR) camera with color vision and will receive a near-infrared cut filter. In addition, Hensoldt provides a digital outlet.

Hensoldt will deliver the observation and reconnaissance systems to Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW), which will handle the integration of the BAA II NL and its command and control system into the Fennek reconnaissance vehicles. Deliveries to KMW will begin in autumn 2022 with the qualification systems. Series delivery will start in 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by 2027.


Army Recognition Global Defense and Security news
Dutch Army Fennek armored reconnaissance vehicle in Peutie (Belgium)  (Picture source: Army Recognition)