At the AUSA 2024 conference, sensor solution provider HENSOLDT and defence contractor Raytheon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing their collaboration on Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) systems for NATO forces. This agreement highlights both companies’ commitment to bolstering NATO operations by improving the sustainment and readiness of critical military technologies.
The MoU represents a significant milestone in the partnership between HENSOLDT and Raytheon, who have been collaborating on global opportunities for some time. The agreement reflects a joint effort to bring sustainment and support closer to operational units, ensuring NATO service members have reliable access to high-performance EO/IR systems that are mission ready.
A key outcome of this collaboration will be the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Oberkochen, Germany, expected to be operational by the end of Q1 2025. This facility will provide essential support to NATO partners throughout Europe, enhancing the readiness and operational capability of EO/IR systems deployed in the field.
Initially, the partnership will focus on airborne EO/IR programs in both Europe and the United States, with plans to expand to land-based programs in the future. By leveraging their respective strengths, HENSOLDT and Raytheon aim to meet clear customer requirements and enhance their joint capabilities to better serve NATO and other defence customers.
“This MoU is a testament to our shared vision of bringing ourselves and our capabilities closer to our customers and their needs,” said Tanya Altmann, Head of the Optronics & Land Solutions division at HENSOLDT. “By collaborating with Raytheon, we are ensuring that our customers in Europe and the US have access to the most advanced and capable EO/IR systems available, all backed by world-class sustainment services.”
With the MoU signed at AUSA 2024, HENSOLDT and Raytheon have laid out detailed plans for their cooperation. Immediate next steps include finalizing the MRO facility in Oberkochen and positioning resources to support NATO’s operational requirements. The two companies are committed to working closely to ensure the efficient execution of the agreement, with aspirations to expand further into the US market in the near future.
