(pressebox) (Düsseldorf, 2008-06-24) Rheinmetall Defence and BAE Systems recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to equip the German Air Force Tactical Air Command and Control Service with active long-range radar systems (project ARED), both companies announced at Eurosatory 2008 in Paris.

The cooperation agreement involves, as the first phase, the equipping of the Tactical Air Command and Control Service with six new systems. Within the ARED programme, Rheinmetall Defence as lead contractor will be responsible for the entire infrastructure, installation and integration and life cycle support. BAE Systems will deliver radar units of the type "Commander SL". This is the new solid-state version of the successful Commander Sensor, a static or tactical long-range 3D radar that is currently being delivered to the Royal Air Force in its static configuration.

The MOU between BAE Systems, which can look back on more than 70 years of experience with radar systems, and Rheinmetall Defence, a system integration house of international standing, is an important milestone for both companies. Through this agreement, the existing cooperation between Rheinmetall Defence and BAE Systems is now being augmented in the field of defence electronics. The two companies are also currently discussing the possibility of initiating other joint projects in Europe.

In the period from 1960 to 1970, NATO installed a number of different radar systems in Germany within the scope of the NADGE programme (NATO Air Defence Ground Environment) that were used by the air defence forces for intercepting high-altitude flying systems. These ground-based radar chains no longer offer the technology appropriate for today's scenarios. As part of a procurement programme, the German Air Force intends to replace the existing Medium Power Radar (MPR) radar units with the new generation of radar systems.