Keysight Technologies Secures NATO FORACS Contract to Enhance Radar & ESM Testing Capabilities
Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS) has been awarded a strategic contract by NATO’s Naval Forces Sensor and Weapons Accuracy Check Sites (FORACS) to deliver advanced radar target generation and electronic warfare (EW) threat simulation solutions. This collaboration aims to significantly improve NATO’s operational readiness by modernizing the calibration and performance evaluation of radar and electronic support measures (ESM) systems across member nations.
Meeting Dynamic Defense Needs with High-Fidelity Test Environments
In today’s rapidly evolving defense landscape, the reliability and precision of radar and ESM systems are critical for situational awareness, accurate targeting, and real-time threat detection. As electronic warfare threats become more sophisticated, military forces require high-fidelity test environments that can simulate dynamic, real-world scenarios — including multi-emitter signals, closed-loop testing, and advanced threat modeling.
Keysight’s cutting-edge Radar Target Generator (RTG) and Electronic Warfare Threat Simulation Solutions are specifically engineered to meet these complex requirements. The systems will be deployed at NATO naval bases, enabling comprehensive system validation and ensuring optimal performance in contested electromagnetic environments.
Key Features of Keysight’s RTG and EW Solutions
The scope of the contract includes the integration and delivery of next-generation hardware and software platforms designed to enhance NATO’s testing infrastructure. Key capabilities include:
- High-Fidelity Radar Target Generation:
Accurately simulates Doppler shift, range variability, and radar cross-section characteristics to enable thorough assessment of radar tracking and identification systems. - Advanced Electronic Warfare Threat Simulation:
Replicates complex EW environments with multi-emitter interference, jamming techniques, and deceptive signal patterns to evaluate the effectiveness of ESM systems under realistic combat conditions. - Modular, Open-Architecture Design:
Offers flexible upgrades through a customizable hardware-software framework, ensuring long-term adaptability to emerging mission needs and technological advancements. - Deployable and Scalable Configurations:
Designed for both field and laboratory use, allowing NATO to conduct testing across multiple operational sites and environments.
These features ensure that NATO’s FORACS program maintains robust calibration and performance verification standards for its radar and sensor systems.
Built in Europe for NATO’s Unique Requirements
Notably, Keysight’s Radar Target Generator leverages commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components tailored with customized firmware and a dedicated graphical user interface (GUI) developed entirely in Europe. This approach reflects Keysight’s commitment to working closely with local R&D centers and European technology partners to deliver a future-ready, highly realistic test environment tailored to NATO’s evolving defense strategy.
Strengthening NATO FORACS’ Core Capabilities
The NATO FORACS Office, headquartered in Brussels, emphasized the importance of this initiative in restoring and future-proofing their core testing capabilities. A spokesperson from the office stated:
“The NATO FORACS Office is pleased to note the placement of this contract which will supply important equipment to restore NATO FORACS’ core radar and ESM testing capabilities in order to meet its users’ evolving demands.”
This upgrade ensures that NATO continues to meet the rigorous expectations of its defense operations while maintaining technical superiority in a technologically competitive global environment.
Keysight’s Commitment to Defense Innovation
Thierry Locquette, Vice President and General Manager for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Keysight Technologies, highlighted the significance of the project:
“NATO’s ability to verify and enhance the accuracy of its radar and ESM systems is critical to mission success in today’s contested electromagnetic spectrum environment. Keysight is proud to provide the cutting-edge solutions necessary to enable NATO FORACS to maintain the highest levels of sensor performance, ensuring operational superiority across allied forces.”
Locquette further noted that Keysight’s solution was developed in close collaboration with European research facilities and local partners, reinforcing the company’s regional investment and alignment with NATO’s strategic defense priorities.
