The contract is seen as a significant milestone in Weibel’s goal of achieving a turnover of DKK 2.5 billion by 2030. This success follows the company’s commitment since 2019 to develop the world’s most advanced surveillance radar to protect NATO countries from contemporary and future airborne threats.
Weibel’s state-of-the-art radar system, XENTA, is at the core of this achievement. “This historic order is not only the largest in the history of our company but also proof that we are well on our way to achieving our goal of becoming the global leader in radar systems for short-range air defence and protection against hostile drones,” said Peter Røpke, CEO of Weibel Scientific.
The partnership between Weibel and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has evolved significantly, marked by strategic alignment and mutual growth. “The cultures and cooperation between our two companies complement each other well, and our product solutions align perfectly,” Røpke added.
The XENTA radars will be integrated into the Norwegian Army’s NOMADS mobile air defence system. NOMADS, developed by Kongsberg, is a modern solution for short-range air defence and countering unmanned aerial systems (Counter-UAS). Deliveries are scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
Weibel’s XENTA radars are already operational in various high-security environments. These include installations in Norway, the Danish drone centre at Hans Christian Andersen Airport, and Paris airports Charles de Gaulle and Le Bourget, where they were pivotal in securing the 2024 Olympics.
According to Røpke, the increased global security concerns are driving demand for advanced radar systems. “The worsening of the global security situation is creating enormous demand for our product solutions—ranging from the protection of civilian and public critical infrastructure to the protection of soldiers in warfare,” he noted.
Identifying small drones amid complex airspace environments remains a key challenge. Weibel has successfully addressed this with the XENTA radar’s advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities, which accurately differentiate drones from birds or wind turbines.
The success of XENTA also highlights Weibel’s legacy of technological innovation. “It is a great joy to witness that the technology choices and risks taken by my sister’s and my father, Erik Tingleff Larsen, when he founded Weibel Scientific, still form the foundation and core of everything we create,” said Thomas Øiseth Munkholm, owner of Weibel Scientific.
Looking ahead, Weibel plans to invest further in core technology development and increase its workforce by over 200 employees in the coming years. “The direction is clear, the DNA and culture are strongly rooted… But now we are turning up the pace and the ambition,” said Munkholm.
