FGAN

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The world's largest radome from FGAN in Wachtberg (2010)

The FGAN ( Research Society for Applied Natural Sciences e.V. ) was a community of three institutes for defense and security research.

history

On January 1, 1957, the Research Institute for High Frequency Physics was established under the umbrella of the Society for the Promotion of Astrophysical Research e. V. founded. At first, the premises of Telefunken in Bonn were used, but also the Astropeiler Stockert near Bad Münstereifel, together with the astronomical institute of the University of Bonn , later the former Hotel Bellevue in Rolandseck . From 1966 to 1970 a radar system was built in Wachtberg , between Werthhoven and Berkum in the Drachenfelser Ländchen (→ Radom Wachtberg ). In 1975 the organization was given its current name, at that time it consisted of six institutes with almost 500 employees.

structure

Most recently, the FGAN consisted of the three research institutes FHR (high frequency physics and radar technology), FKIE (communication, information processing and ergonomics) at Werthhoven and FOM (optronics and pattern recognition) in Ettlingen . In 2009 FGAN employed almost 700 people.

The main research areas were radar technology (VHF to infrared), pattern recognition , ergonomics and information systems . The main focus here was on military applications, as the funding was mainly provided from the defense budget. In 2005, 520 people were employed, 220 of them scientists. In 1998, FGAN received the equivalent of 24 million euros from the federal budget. Of this, operations accounted for 21 million euros and investments for 3 million euros. Research contracts totaling around EUR 12 million were also awarded. Among other things, research was carried out at one of the institutes on the German SAR-Lupe satellite reconnaissance system . There was a cooperation with ESA .

Incorporation into the Fraunhofer Society

On June 24th, 2009 the integration into the Fraunhofer Society and the Fraunhofer Group for Defense and Security Research (VVS) was decided and took place on August 17th, 2009. The tax payments from the loss of non-profit status and the high amount that had to be paid when changing the pension provider ( RZVK at FGAN; VBL at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft), as well as the costs for setting up civil research departments, had to be clarified until the end . With the incorporation into the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the previously independent association expired and the three research institutes became legally dependent Fraunhofer institutes. These are:

Radom in Wachtberg

The area of ​​the current Fraunhofer Institutes FHR and FKIE is particularly known in the Cologne / Bonn region for the world's largest radome , which is located on the area in Wachtberg . Because of its exposed location and size of 49 meters in diameter or 54.5 meters high, it can be seen over 50 km far with good visibility. The object ( 50 ° 36 ′ 59.4 ″  N , 7 ° 7 ′ 46.9 ″  E ) is popularly known as "the sphere" and is the symbol of the municipality of Wachtberg. The special skin of the radome protects a 34-meter-tall and 240-ton freely movable parabolic mirror from wind and weather. It serves as a radar antenna (transmit and receive) with which near-earth objects in space ( satellites or space debris ) are identified or mapped.

literature

  • Jan-Phillipp Weisswange: “FGAN. 50 Years of Defense and Security Research ”. In: Strategy and Technology . January, 2007, pp. 46-47, ISSN  1860-5311
  • Johannes Seiler: “Sensor technology for use in Lebanon. The FGAN in Wachtberg has been researching national defense for 50 years ”in: General-Anzeiger Bonn . January 26, 2007, p. 6

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Jens Fiege: FGAN institutes now Fraunhofer. Fraunhofer, January 17, 2011, accessed July 20, 2016 .

Coordinates: 50 ° 37 '2 "  N , 7 ° 7' 49"  E