Air Defense

SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII

Also known as
  • SPEXER 2000
  • SPEXER 2000 3D MKIII Land
  • SPEXER 2000 MkIII
  • SPEXER 2000M 3D MkIII

SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII is a German HENSOLDT X-band AESA pulse-Doppler radar for short-range air defense, counter-UAS work, battlefield surveillance, and mobile force protection. HENSOLDT describes it as an on-the-move sensor that can classify small aerial and ground targets, support effector cueing, and be integrated into systems such as Rheinmetall's Skyranger 30.

SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII, Short-range AESA surveillance and air-defense radar, Air Defense
Image source: HENSOLDT SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII Land

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Germany
Built by
HENSOLDT
Type
Short-range AESA surveillance and air-defense radar
Service note
Introduced as a modernized SPEXER family radar for counter-UAS, battlefield surveillance, and ground-based air-defense roles
Designer
HENSOLDT
Designed
MkIII generation publicly promoted by HENSOLDT in the early 2020s
Produced
Active production and framework-order period documented in the 2020s

Specifications

Radar type
Full-coherent X-band AESA pulse-Doppler radar
Primary roles
Ground-based air defense, C-UAS, battlefield surveillance, artillery support, convoy protection, and force protection
Target classes
Ground, sea, and low-flying air targets including micro-UAVs, helicopters, fighters, missiles, vehicles, and small boats
Target classification
Spectral-based micro-Doppler automatic target classification
Azimuth coverage
120 degrees per antenna panel; 360 degrees all-round coverage with three antennas
Elevation coverage
Up to 90 degrees hemispheric coverage
Track capacity
More than 300 targets per 120-degree sector
Target speed envelope
0.8 to 2,000 m/s listed in the HENSOLDT GBAD datasheet
Input power
24 V DC
Antenna dimensions
0.6 m x 0.5 m x 0.16 m per antenna, per HENSOLDT GBAD datasheet
Antenna weight
36 kg per antenna, per HENSOLDT GBAD datasheet
Processing unit
0.6 m x 0.4 m x 0.3 m; 45 kg processing unit, per HENSOLDT GBAD datasheet
Environmental qualification
HENSOLDT lists MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461 compliance
Radar Role And Integration

SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII sits in the short-range sensor layer rather than the long-range search-radar role associated with systems such as TRML-4D. HENSOLDT describes the radar as an X-band AESA pulse-Doppler system for battlefield surveillance, C-UAS, and ground-based air defense, with target data precise enough to support sensor-to-shooter assignments.

Primary threats

Small UAVs, helicopters, aircraft, missiles, ground targets, and surface targets in cluttered environments.

Sources: HENSOLDT SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII Land; HENSOLDT SPEXER Datasheet.

Coverage model

One panel covers a 120 degree sector; three antennas provide all-round coverage, with up to 90 degree hemispheric elevation coverage.

Sources: HENSOLDT SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII Land; HENSOLDT SPEXER Datasheet.

System use

HENSOLDT identifies SPEXER 2000 with Skyranger 30, German C-UAS and laser-defense programs, and the NNbS close and short-range air-defense program.

Sources: HENSOLDT Skyranger 30 SPEXER Order; HENSOLDT Ukraine Radar Order; HENSOLDT Rheinmetall SPEXER Agreement.

Variants

HENSOLDT uses SPEXER 2000 as a product-family designation with land, naval, and system-integration configurations. The catalog entry focuses on the 3D MkIII land/GBAD radar documented in the Ukraine order and product data.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII LandGround-based air-defense and battlefield-surveillance radar

HENSOLDT's land product page describes the MkIII land configuration for battlefield surveillance, artillery support, C-UAS, and ground-based air defense.

Sources: HENSOLDT SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII Land

SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII NavalShipborne and coastal surveillance configuration

HENSOLDT markets a naval MkIII configuration for small-target detection, vessel protection, harbour security, and coastal monitoring.

Sources: HENSOLDT SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII Naval

Vehicle Integration

HENSOLDT describes SPEXER 2000M 3D MkIII as the radar selected for Skyranger 30 short-range air-defense vehicles.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
Boxer, Modular 8x8 armoured vehicle family, Armored VehiclesBoxerBoxer-based Skyranger 30 carrier

HENSOLDT says the German Skyranger 30 is based on the GTK Boxer and that ordered SPEXER radars equip Skyranger vehicles for Germany and Austria.

Sources: HENSOLDT Skyranger 30 SPEXER Order

Timeline

SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII Key Events

  1. HENSOLDT details mobile MkIII concept

    HENSOLDT described SPEXER 2000 MkIII as the current family generation for mobile 3D detection, small-drone classification, X-band AESA operation, and on-the-move protection.

    Sources: HENSOLDT SPEXER On The Move

  2. Skyranger 30 radar contract announced

    HENSOLDT said Rheinmetall Air Defence ordered SPEXER air-defense radars for Skyranger 30 vehicles, including German Boxer-based and Austrian Pandur EVO-based systems.

    Sources: HENSOLDT Skyranger 30 SPEXER Order

  3. Ukraine radar order announced

    HENSOLDT announced an order worth more than EUR340 million that included SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII short-range radars and TRML-4D radars for Ukraine's air defense.

    Sources: HENSOLDT Ukraine Radar Order

  4. Rheinmetall framework agreement announced

    HENSOLDT announced a long-term framework agreement to supply SPEXER 2000 family radars for Rheinmetall air-defense systems, especially drone-defense applications and Skyranger 30.

    Sources: HENSOLDT Rheinmetall SPEXER Agreement

Media

SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII Videos

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Sources

HENSOLDT SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII LandPublisher: HENSOLDT | Note: Supports the SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII land identity, battlefield-surveillance, C-UAS, artillery-support and ground-based-air-defense roles, X-band pulse-Doppler/AESA design, target-classification features, coverage, track capacity, flexible effector support, and official product-image context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HENSOLDT SPEXER DatasheetPublisher: HENSOLDT | Note: Supports technical specifications including X-band pulse-Doppler radar design, 120-degree sector tracking, 90-degree coverage, target-speed envelope, antenna and processing-unit dimensions, weights, power input, ECCM, and military-standard compliance. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HENSOLDT SPEXER On The MovePublisher: HENSOLDT | Note: Supports mobile-radar context, SPEXER family background, nearly two decades of military and security-force use, MkIII mobility emphasis, X-band AESA description, small-drone classification, and 360-degree/90-degree coverage discussion. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HENSOLDT Ukraine Radar OrderPublisher: HENSOLDT | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use relevance by documenting a July 2025 order to deliver SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII short-range radars and TRML-4D radars to strengthen Ukraine's air defense. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HENSOLDT Skyranger 30 SPEXER OrderPublisher: HENSOLDT | Note: Supports SPEXER 2000M 3D MkIII integration with Rheinmetall Skyranger 30 air-defense vehicles, the almost EUR100 million Rheinmetall Air Defence order, German Boxer-based and Austrian Pandur EVO-based Skyranger context, and Bundeswehr NNbS program context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HENSOLDT Rheinmetall SPEXER AgreementPublisher: HENSOLDT | Note: Supports Rheinmetall/Skyranger integration context, long-term SPEXER 2000 family radar supply for ground-based air-defense and drone-defense systems, and German program context including ASUL, HoWiSM, and NNbS. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HENSOLDT SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII NavalPublisher: HENSOLDT | Note: Supports the naval MkIII variant context, small-target detection role, shipborne sensor use, coastal and harbour security applications, and multi-mission standalone radar positioning. | Accessed: 2026-07-13