German defense electronics specialist Hensoldt has secured contracts worth approximately €400 million ($472 million) from KNDS to supply advanced digital optronic systems for armored vehicles operated by the German Armed Forces. The agreements cover sensor and sighting solutions for both Boxer infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2 main battle tanks, significantly expanding Hensoldt’s footprint in Germany’s land systems modernization program.
The larger contract, valued at around €290 million ($342 million), involves the delivery of 288 complete digital optronic suites for Boxer RCT 30 wheeled armored vehicles. Each suite includes the PERI RTWL HD digital commander’s sight, the WAO HD digital gunner’s sight, a multifunctional self-protection system, and integrated monitors for real-time video display. These systems will equip the Boxer IFVs designated “Schakal,” which are being procured under a recent contract awarded to a Rheinmetall–KNDS Deutschland joint venture.
In a separate deal worth more than €110 million ($130 million), Hensoldt will provide 178 digital optronic sets for the Leopard 2 A8 main battle tank. The package includes PERI RTWL HD commander sights, FERO Z18 auxiliary gunner sights, Spectus II sensor heads, ATTICA GL thermal imagers, and the EMES OPO fire-control and rangefinding system. Overall, the company will supply a total of 301 digital sighting systems for the Leopard 2 fleet.
Deliveries of the sensor systems are scheduled to begin in 2027. Prototype digital sights for the Puma turret have already been delivered, with series production for the Boxer Schakal expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2027. The PERI RTWL HD system forms the backbone of the capability, offering continuous 360-degree surveillance, target acquisition on the move, and high performance in degraded conditions such as dust, fog, and darkness, while enabling cross-platform integration across multiple armored vehicle types.
