OCCAR has signed a fresh in-service support agreement with Hensoldt to sustain the COBRA counter-battery radar systems used by France and Germany. The new contract spans 2026 to 2028 and is strategically established before the current support deal concludes at the end of 2025. This early renewal ensures both nations maintain seamless access to vital engineering and maintenance functions for their key artillery-detection capability.
Hensoldt will continue to operate as the design authority for the COBRA system, overseeing essential services such as technical troubleshooting, configuration control, on-site repairs, quality management, and IT security. The company will also manage all logistical documentation and will emphasize proactive obsolescence monitoring to ensure the radar systems remain fully mission-capable throughout the contract period.
Developed collaboratively in the 1990s by Thales, Airbus Defence and Space, and Lockheed Martin, the COBRA radar was built for the French, British, and German armed forces. Deliveries concluded in 2007, followed by several support contracts—most notably a 2013 agreement with ESG, renewed in 2022. Hensoldt’s acquisition of ESG in 2024 unified the system’s support and engineering responsibilities under one organization, streamlining sustainment efforts.
Regarded as one of the world’s premier ground-based weapon-locating solutions, COBRA combines a powerful radar, advanced processing algorithms, and a flexible command-and-control suite. The system can identify and classify up to 40 hostile artillery sources within two minutes and aid in adjusting friendly fire missions. Its enhanced configuration extends operational detection out to 100 kilometers and introduces features like dual-layer search capability and automatic sandstorm filtering, significantly improving effectiveness in challenging environments.
