HENSOLDT Wins €1 Billion GDELS Order for CERETRON Integration into LUCHS 2 Bundeswehr Vehicles

HENSOLDT has achieved a historic milestone with the announcement of a nearly €1 billion order from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) for the Bundeswehr’s next-generation reconnaissance vehicle, the LUCHS 2. This contract, which extends until 2032, represents the largest order in the company’s history for mission systems and sensor capabilities. It underscores the growing importance of advanced sensor integration and digital mission systems in modern military operations.

Photo: Hensoldt

The agreement covers the development phase, pre-series vehicles, and two major production batches. The first batch includes 274 vehicles already ordered, while additional options for further systems are under consideration. Beyond hardware and software delivery, HENSOLDT will provide comprehensive logistical support, including training programs, technical documentation, spare parts, and long-term sustainment services. This holistic approach ensures that the Bundeswehr will not only receive cutting-edge reconnaissance platforms but also the infrastructure to maintain operational readiness throughout the system’s lifecycle.

The LUCHS 2 program is widely regarded as a paradigm shift in reconnaissance capabilities. HENSOLDT’s CEO Oliver Dörre emphasized that “data is the new ammunition” in networked operations, highlighting the central role of information superiority in future conflicts. By adopting a modular, software-driven architecture, the LUCHS 2 is designed to evolve continuously, adapting to new threats and technologies over decades of service. The program strengthens European technological sovereignty and positions Germany at the forefront of digital defense innovation.

CERETRON – The Brain of LUCHS 2

At the heart of the LUCHS 2 lies CERETRON, the advanced mission system that integrates multiple multispectral sensors into a unified operational picture. CERETRON processes real-time data streams, generating a consistent tactical overview for the crew. Artificial intelligence algorithms enable automatic detection, identification, and tracking of potential threats, reducing the cognitive burden on operators. Built on NATO’s Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA), CERETRON is scalable and adaptive, allowing new algorithms and capabilities to be added without hardware modifications. This software-centric design ensures long-term flexibility and future-proofing.

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The CERETRON suite is a cutting-edge system designed to revolutionize the way modern forces perceive and act on the battlefield. By integrating sensors from both its own portfolio and third-party systems, CERETRON transforms raw data into mission-relevant intelligence, ensuring that operators and commanders gain a unified and intelligent operational picture. This fusion of diverse data streams creates a single, coherent image that can be shared instantly across mission control and deployed units.

The system relies heavily on advanced image processing algorithms and machine learning techniques to detect, classify, and localize objects within the operator’s field of view. By combining sensor inputs, CERETRON not only strengthens the accuracy of information but also significantly reduces the risk of false alarms. This capability ensures that forces can act with confidence, minimizing hesitation and maximizing operational effectiveness in high-pressure environments.

One of the most striking advantages of CERETRON is its ability to deliver situational awareness at unprecedented speed. Processes that once required several minutes can now be executed within milliseconds, giving forces a decisive edge in fast-moving combat scenarios. What an operator sees is no longer confined to a single screen; instead, it becomes instantly visible to the entire mission team, enabling synchronized decision-making and coordinated responses.

Artificial intelligence plays a central role in CERETRON’s decentralized architecture, automatically reducing operator workload while enhancing reconnaissance, target acquisition, and data transfer efficiency. This intelligent support system ensures that missions are conducted with greater precision and less human strain, allowing operators to focus on critical tasks while the system manages complex data flows.

Beyond human capability, CERETRON offers extraordinary advantages such as the ability to see through armor, observe across multiple spectrums including infrared, and monitor several directions simultaneously. These features extend the reach of human perception, granting forces a technological superiority that is vital in modern warfare.

Multispectral Sensor Suite for Superior Reconnaissance

The LUCHS 2 is equipped with a comprehensive array of multispectral sensors. The BAA IV system provides long-range reconnaissance capabilities through thermal imaging, daylight optics, a laser rangefinder, target illuminator, and an optional short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera for adverse weather conditions. The SETAS “See-Through Armour System” delivers full situational awareness day and night, enabling crews to detect threats in real time even under armor protection. Additional sensors include a Radio Direction Finder (RDF), a laser warning system, and acoustic sensors capable of detecting and localizing hostile fire. Together, these systems create an unparalleled reconnaissance capability that enhances survivability and mission effectiveness.

BAA

The BAA system developed by Hensoldt has been designed to meet the demanding requirements of modern military surveillance and reconnaissance missions. With its enhanced mission capabilities and approved operational standards, the system integrates three to four high-performance sensors that provide comprehensive situational awareness in diverse environments. The inclusion of an optional SWIR camera further expands its versatility, enabling detection and observation under challenging atmospheric conditions.

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One of the defining features of the BAA system is its modular sensor head, which can be mounted remotely away from the vehicle, offering greater flexibility in deployment. The system combines infrared cameras, day vision cameras, a laser rangefinder, and laser pointer/illuminator to deliver a complete surveillance package. Operators benefit from a dedicated control and display unit that ensures seamless command over the system’s functions, while the azimuth range of 360° and elevation coverage from -30° to +70° guarantee wide-area monitoring.

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Engineered for resilience, the BAA system is capable of operating in extreme temperatures ranging from -32°C to +63°C, making it suitable for missions in both arctic and desert conditions. Its rugged design ensures reliable performance even in the harshest operational theaters, where durability and precision are critical to mission success. The system’s adaptability allows it to be integrated into existing command and information networks without difficulty, reinforcing its role as a force multiplier.

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A key advantage of the BAA platform lies in its advanced image fusion function, which merges thermal imaging data with day vision camera feeds to produce a single unified picture. This capability enhances target recognition and situational clarity, providing operators with superior visual intelligence. Additionally, the automatic motion detection function is particularly valuable for naval missions, as it supports crews during extended operations by identifying potential threats or movements without constant manual oversight.

SETAS

The Transparent Armor Protection System, known as SETAS, represents a breakthrough in modern armored vehicle technology. Designed to operate seamlessly day and night, the system provides continuous 24/7 surveillance of the immediate area surrounding the vehicle. By integrating real-time feeds from multiple cameras, SETAS delivers a complete 360-degree view, ensuring crews maintain unmatched situational awareness even in the most hostile environments.

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With its high vertical field of view, the system allows operators to detect and track threats across multiple angles. Advanced algorithms enable identification and recognition of individuals at distances exceeding 300 meters, giving crews critical time to react. The ability to exchange data with other vehicles further enhances battlefield coordination, creating a networked defense capability that strengthens overall mission effectiveness.

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SETAS is engineered with modular architecture and open standards, making it compatible with NGVA-ready hardware. This flexibility allows for easy integration of additional sensors, ensuring the system can adapt to evolving operational requirements. Reinforced to meet MIL-STD standards, the platform guarantees durability under extreme conditions while maintaining low latency of less than 100 milliseconds, a crucial factor for rapid decision-making in combat.

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Each crew member benefits from independent and customizable displays, with up to eight operators able to monitor specific areas of interest simultaneously. Using intuitive human-machine interfaces, including head-mounted displays, personnel inside the vehicle can virtually “see through” the armored hull. This capability not only enhances awareness but also allows for faster responses to emerging threats without exposing the crew to danger.

Photo: Hensoldt

The system’s high-resolution imaging and intuitive design ensure that operators can quickly interpret complex battlefield scenarios. By combining advanced detection, recognition, and identification features with scalable display options, SETAS empowers crews to act decisively. The result is a platform that maximizes survivability, accelerates decision-making, and delivers mission-approved reliability in modern combat operations.

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MDOcore – Multi-Domain Backbone for Networked Defense

CERETRON is seamlessly connected to HENSOLDT’s MDOcore framework, the backbone of future multi-domain defense architectures. MDOcore links sensors, effectors, and cognitive systems across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains. By enabling cross-domain integration, MDOcore ensures that the LUCHS 2 is not just a reconnaissance vehicle but a node within a broader networked defense ecosystem. This capability is central to modern military doctrine, where superiority is achieved through information dominance and synchronized operations across multiple domains.