Mission-ready electronics protection Rugged enclosure systems by ROSE for defence applications

As armed forces across Europe invest in modernisation and resilience, reliable protection for sensitive electronics becomes a critical factor in operational readiness. With its specialised range of military-grade enclosures, Germany-based ROSE Systemtechnik offers robust, certified solutions for harsh environments – from naval operations to land-based and airborne systems.

With geopolitical tensions on the rise and defence spending increasing in many NATO countries, demand is growing for components and subsystems that can withstand extreme environmental stress. One critical component is the protective enclosure – a first line of defence for embedded electronics in military vehicles, systems and infrastructure.

ROSE Systemtechnik, headquartered in Porta Westfalica, Germany, has developed a specialised portfolio of defence-grade enclosure systems that meet the technical and regulatory demands of modern military operations. Designed for use across all branches of the armed forces – army, air force, and navy – these enclosures are available in aluminium, stainless steel or polyester variants and can be configured to specific requirements.

All enclosures meet the relevant military and industrial standards, including certifications for ATEX, UL-Ex, INMETRO, UKCA Ex, and Explolabs. In addition, ROSE offers housing solutions for Ex control stations in explosive or hazardous areas – a common scenario in both defence and heavy industry environments.

Materials and shielding: Built for hostile environments

ROSE enclosures are designed to protect sensitive electronics against dust, water ingress, salt corrosion, mechanical shock, and electromagnetic interference (EMI). Standard configurations support IP66 and IP67 ingress protection, while optional EMI gaskets provide RF shielding, ensuring secure signal transmission and shielding against electronic warfare effects or unintended emissions.

For naval and marine applications, the company offers passivated aluminium housings treated in a chromium(III) oxide bath and reinforced with low-copper alloys for corrosion resistance. Alternatively, V4A-grade stainless steel (CrNiMo) is used for enclosures deployed in offshore environments where long-term exposure to moisture and salt is expected.

Defence customers may also specify NATO-standard coatings, which ROSE applies in-house. Before delivery, all housings are subjected to extensive testing, including DIN EN 60529 ingress protection validation, DIN EN ISO 9227 salt spray tests, climate chamber storage, UV and weathering exposure, and ESD discharge resistance. Custom testing, including environmental simulations with integrated components, is available upon request.

Customisation, integration and mechanical services

ROSE provides a wide range of custom mechanical machining, component assembly and surface treatment services, enabling customers to tailor enclosures to project-specific requirements. This includes mounting holes, colour coding, bracket integration and connector fitment.

The defence housings are also suitable for integration into larger systems, such as embedded control units, sensor housings, and power management modules. The modular design and availability of certified accessories help reduce integration effort, especially in time-critical procurement scenarios.