German Government A350 VIP Aircraft to be fitted with Elbit DIRCM
January 1, 2025
The contract, placed by the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Operations of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), will be executed over a five-year period, and marks the first installation of Elbit’s DIRCM system on an A350 aircraft, though the system has been fitted to A330 tankers and military transports.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius greeted the contract by saying that: “The safety of our passengers and crew is my top priority. I am therefore delighted that our long-haul fleet is receiving this important self-protection. In close coordination with the Air Force, our modern Airbus A350s will be equipped so that they will also have the most modern security features.”
The Special Missions Air Wing ((or the Kommando Einsatzverbände Luftwaffe of the Flugbereitschaft des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung (FBS BMVg) has received three new A350s to replace two long-serving Airbus A340s, which had started to become unreliable. The ‘Weiße Flotte’ (white fleet) received an initial aircraft (10+03 ‘Kurt Schumacher’) with an interim cabin in August 2020, before 10+01 ‘Konrad Adenauer’ and 10+02 ‘Theodor Heuss’ followed, fitted with full VIP interiors, in November 2022 and March 2023. 10+03 then returned to Lufthansa Technik’s Hamburg VIP Completion Centre, where it was refitted to the same cabin interior standards as the other two aircraft.
Lufthansa Technik will now go about installing Elbit’s DIRCM system on the three aircraft. Elbit Systems’ J-MUSIC DIRCM system is specifically designed to protect aircraft from advanced surface-to-air missiles. The system integrates advanced laser technology with state-of-the-art imaging technology. It is already deployed on various military and commercial platforms worldwide, and provides proven, reliable, high-quality protection, with an ability to counter evolving threats.
Oren Sabag, General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW said that: “As threats continue to increase, more and more nations are turning to Elbit Systems’ self-protection solutions to protect their fleets. Our DIRCM technology has consistently demonstrated its reliability and effectiveness, solidifying its position as a market leader and innovator in this important field.”
Michael von Puttkamer, Vice President of Special Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik said that: “The Special Mission Air Wing is responsible for Germany’s political-parliamentary flight operations. In view of increasing global instability and regional conflicts, the use of MANPADS by non-state actors, among others, poses a concrete threat. The security situation demands that Germany ensures the protection of its own leadership. We are therefore proud of this lighthouse project with Elbit Systems and Airbus and look forward to contributing our expertise.”
Wolfgang Bauer, the CEO of Elbit Systems Deutschland added that: “We are proud to be working with Lufthansa Technik on this important project and look forward to further strengthening the impact and trust in our solutions.”
