The defence sector is witnessing a transformative collaboration between Germany's Rohde & Schwarz and Italy's ELT Group, as the two industry leaders join forces to deliver advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems for some European navies. This partnership, announced on February 27, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in naval modernization, with implications that extend far beyond the immediate scope of the German Navy’s F124 SACHSEN-class frigates and Poland’s MIECZNIK-class multirole frigates.

Electronic warfare is a cornerstone of modern defence strategies, enabling naval forces to maintain situational awareness, counter threats, and ensure self-protection in increasingly complex operational environments. Rohde & Schwarz has been commissioned to supply and integrate its R&S KORA systems - comprising communications, radar electronic support measures (R-ESM), radar countermeasures (R-ECM), and communication electronic support measures (C-ESM) - for these frigates. These systems are designed to enhance early warning capabilities, bolster defensive measures, and provide unparalleled situational awareness for naval vessels.

The involvement of ELT Group is equally critical. With over 70 years of expertise in electronic defence systems, ELT brings cutting-edge solutions for radar electronic support and countermeasures to the table. Their contributions align seamlessly with Rohde & Schwarz's stringent technical standards and expand the capabilities of the R&S KORA system. This synergy underscores the strength of European defense cooperation, particularly between Germany and Italy, as both nations strive to maintain technological sovereignty in an era of evolving threats. This collaboration builds upon previous joint efforts between the two companies, notably their work on Germany’s F126 frigate project.

A Rohde & Schwarz executive told FW MAG that “a key factor in selecting ELT Group as our partner for the F124 and MIECZNIK frigate projects is their ability to complement our existing systems – which are designed for high precision, bearing accuracy, and sensitivity – with a broadband element offering even faster response times. This enhancement provides us with a more robust and responsive electromagnetic warfare (EW) system, ideal for modern naval operations”.

The source also specified that ELT perceived as a European partner which aligns with R&S’ strategic goals. He added that “after evaluating the market, we believe ELT offers the best subsystem of its kind available today. This perfectly matches our commitment to delivering only the highest-quality technology to our customers. Through this partnership, we are able to offer an integrated, state-of-the-art solution that significantly strengthens our competitive position in the electronic warfare domain”.

Indeed, the relevance of this partnership extends beyond technological advancements. The integration of these EW systems represents a proactive response to the growing complexity of naval operations in contested environments. Modern frigates must navigate challenges such as electronic interference, cyber threats, and increasingly sophisticated missile systems. By equipping German and Polish frigates with state-of-the-art EW capabilities, Rohde & Schwarz and ELT Group are ensuring that client naval forces remain resilient against these threats while maintaining operational superiority.

For the F124 and MIECZNIK projects, the second generation of R&S’ naval electronic support (ES) system is being deployed, with an electromagnetic counter measures component integrated into the F124 project. This new addition expands the system from a pure ES system to a complete EW system. This integration allows for faster, more effective response to threats, enhancing the ship’s self-protection capabilities also by tight coupling with the combat management system (CMS).

Moreover, the R&S executive explained to FW MAG that “the latest generation of radar receivers is being utilized in these projects, significantly extending the detection range to the radar horizon – and even beyond for airborne targets. This gives our customers a much more comprehensive situational picture and provides additional time to react to threats, while also allowing for early detection and appropriate handling of previously unidentified threats. With these advancements, we can proudly say that our maritime EW system makes the equipped ships not only excellent platforms for self-defense but also for protecting the fleet as a whole. An additional benefit of these systems is their strong Intelligence capability (SIGINT), which proves useful, especially when experienced operators are on board to fully leverage the technology”.

In practice, the integration of CESM (Communication Electromagnetic Support Measures) and RESM (Radar Electronmagnetic Support Measures) offers a significant advantage in both the range of reconnaissance and the validation of target detection. One of the primary benefits is the substantial increase in the reconnaissance distance, as CESM is largely not constrained by the radar horizon. This enables the detection of threats over a much larger area, greatly enhancing situational awareness. Additionally, the combination of both radar and communication technologies allows for essential validation of target identification, ensuring more accurate threat assessments.

The executive also esteems that “this dual coverage prepares the system for future extensions, such as the detection of drones and other innovative capabilities we are currently integrating and will reveal in due course. The ability to evolve with emerging threats ensures that our system stays ahead of the curve and remains valuable for future operational needs”.

In effect, the overall architecture of the system is designed for seamless integration with coastal and border surveillance systems, enabling efficient collaboration in a networked environment. This ensures that naval assets can operate not only independently but also as part of a larger integrated system, improving coordinated surveillance and protection strategies.

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