Rohde & Schwarz history

2020

CERTIUM: The full ATC communications portfolio under a single name

R&S enables air traffic control at more than 300 airports and flight operations centers around the world, paving the way for the future of air traffic safety. CERTIUM offers our customers a complete portfolio of innovative and sustainable products from a single source. The comprehensive solution has minimized repair and maintenance costs and encompasses an entire system lifecycle – from design, manufacturing and system integration to project implementation and tailored services. The CERTIUM family includes also CERTIUM VCS – one of the most innovative fully IP based voice communication system on the market.

2021

Next Step: QUANTUM

Billions in public and private investment are flowing into quantum technologies. Visionary applications in sensor technology, computing and communications appear to be within reach. With the acquisition of Zurich Instruments AG in 2021, Rohde & Schwarz officially marks its entry into quantum technology applications, including high-precision test and measurement solutions.

2022

A new generation of oscilloscopes sees the light of day: R&S®MXO 4 series

The RTO series, with its patented digital trigger system, was already a resounding success. In September 2022, a whole new generation was presented to the public: the R&S®MXO 4 series, which combines performance and value. The oscilloscopes offer a unique technical breakthrough for faster insights.

2025

Rohde & Schwarz acquires ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH

On July 1st 2025 the technology group Rohde & Schwarz acquired ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH. The privately owned company based in Oberursel, Hesse, has been designing, developing and manufacturing high-precision power measurement equipment for four decades. The acquisition complemented the Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement product portfolio.

2010

R&S enters the oscilloscope market

Since then, the company has been demonstrating its innovative strength in this product group as well. Right from the start, the RTO had to offer real added value compared to established devices, functions such as a digital trigger, user-friendly touch screen and extremely powerful ASICs had been on users‘ wish lists for a long time.

2011

Market launch of the new R&S®THU9 transmitter generation; R&S®FSW high-end spectrum analyzer goes to market

Broadcasters are always looking for ways to reduce energy and infrastructure costs while increasing efficiency. The R&S®THU9 UHF transmitter family addresses precisely this need. State-of-the-art power transistors, a low-attenuation RF network, new concepts in signal processing and improved cooling components all helped increase transmitter efficiency from below 15 percent to up to 28 percent. What’s more, depending on the configuration, the equipment could also save up to 75 percent of the space required in the transmitter station.

2013

A new era in signal generators: the R&S&®SMW

The R&S®SMW marked the start of a new era of signal generators. Initially equipped with a frequency range of 6 GHz, measuring equipment with higher frequencies of 20 GHz was available by 2014. Today, premium vector signal generators can work at 44 GHz and analog signal generators at 67 GHz.

2014

Test and measurement business field adds microwave imaging

The R&S&®QPS100 security scanner was introduced in 2014, making security checks at airports much more convenient. Both passengers and security staff prefer the open structure, short waiting times and excellent reliability.

2014

R&S enters the cybersecurity market

Cyberattacks are estimated to cause hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damage to the global economy each year. With this in mind, R&S acquired two German IT companies, gateprotect and Adyton, entering the cybersecurity market for the first time. Based on the motto 'To ensure a safer and connected world,' R&S introduced the Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity brand to the market in 2016, laying the foundation for secure digital communications with solutions for industry, government and public sector customers.

2016

ELINT: Introduction of a new system for the acquisition and analysis of radar signals; R&S®ARDRONIS used for drone countering

ELINT brought innovative solutions for radar signal acquisition and analysis to the market. They can be used on a variety of platforms and in any signal environment. These solutions allow users to meet the challenges of today's increasingly complex radar world.

2001

The world's first encrypted cell phone, the TopSec GSM

The TopSec GSM was the first tap-proof cell phone on the market. A special Rohde & Schwarz SIT GmbH encryption system was integrated directly into this GSM mobile phone.

2005

Next generation: Christian Leicher was appointed to the Executive Board

2006

R&S®Series4200 VHF/UHF radio family developed

Air traffic was growing steadily both within Germany and internationally, bringing with it ever-greater ATC communications requirements. In 2006, the company developed the R&S®Series 4200 VHF/UHF radios for air traffic control to address ever-increasing volumes of air traffic and associated radiocommunications traffic. The new generation of radios is equipped for future digital transmission methods over the air interface as well as digital voice communications.

2007

R&S®CMW500 Wideband radio communication tester hits the market

The R&S®CMW500 wideband radio communication tester was developed in close cooperation with mobile radio manufacturers and chipset developers for testing mobile devices in production. Fast, precise and highly scalable, it was the perfect fit for manufacturer needs. With a frequency range of up to 6 GHz and IF bandwidths of 40 MHz (analyzer) and 70 MHz (generator), it had all the prerequisites for long-term marketability.

2008

R&S®ESMD and R&S®PR100 added to the radiomonitoring portfolio

In 2008, Rohde & Schwarz brought two new radiomonitoring instruments to the market. The first R&S®ESMD wideband receiver, which brought all the key functions together in a single instrument, including reception, direction, finding, measurement and demolition. It was designed for signal search, radiomonitoring and frequency management. The second instrument was the R&S®PR100, the only portable receiver in the world that could detect even weak or briefly transmitted signals. In addition to locating sources of interference, it could also be used for communications intelligence and frequency monitoring.

1986

Entry into the spectrum analysis market

Radios, signal generators, and measuring receivers had always been core competencies of Rohde & Schwarz. In 1986, however, the company expanded its product portfolio to include a spectrum analyzer, the FSA. The market was competitive, but Rohde & Schwarz quickly made a name for itself in the field.

1992

GSM system simulator: A success story in mobile communications begins

In 1987, a consortium of several European postal administrations and network operators decided to introduce a Europe-wide digital mobile communicaions network. Mobile communications systems already existed in various countries, but they weren't compatible. One of the main tasks in the project was to develop a system to help test networks and cell phones. R&S received the order for this system, and the GSM system simulator was delivered in April 1992. The GSM network became a European export hit for R&S. Every new cell phone was approved on a system simulator designed and produced by Rohde & Schwarz.

1996

Rohde & Schwarz acquires SIT and enters the IT security market

SIT GmbH has been part of the Rohde & Schwarz Group since May 1996. The importance of information security has been steadily increasing since the end of the 1990s in the transition from an industrial to an information society. Rohde & Schwarz SIT GmbH continues to develop high-security encryption products and systems to help protect this information from unauthorized access.

1999

Wireless communications get faster

At the end of the 1990s, a series of breakthroughs in cell phones brought huge benefits to end users. And even though hardly anyone had heard of the R&S®CMU200 mobile radio tester in 1999, it was already having a major impact on Rohde & Schwarz's ability to widen its lead in mobile communications. By the early 2000s, every second cell phone in the world was developed or manufactured using Rohde & Schwarz equipment.

1999

R&S®M3xR radio family introduced

Increased digitalization brought software-defined radios to the market. In the late 1990s, Rohde & Schwarz launched the R&S®M3xR, R&S®M3SR, R&S®M3AR, R&S®M3TR, which soon led to the addition of interoperable radio systems to the product line. Equipment for the army, air force, and navy is based on the same technology platform. During missions or emergencies, SDRs link the different branches of the armed forces. They also allow communications between the armed forces of different nations.

1960/61

Headquarters move to Mühldorfstrasse in Munich

The company’s imposing main building was built on Mühldorfstrasse between 1960 and 1961, expanding usable workspace by 10,756 square meters. The new space added about 50% to the previous area. The building on Mühldorfstrasse was built as the new company headquarters.

1971

Next generation: Friedrich Schwarz joins the Executive Board

1972

R&S on-board VHF/UHF transceiver for military aircraft

The company entered the military avionics market in 1968, developing aircraft radios for the Tornado. And, in 1970, the company entered the naval communications market, when Rohde & Schwarz equipped the German Navy with radio systems. The first model to have an impact was the SK1 HF transmitter, which featured revolutionary automatic tuning of the output stage. It was soon followed by the XT 3030 VHF/ UHF transceiver.

1974

SMPU: world's first radio tester with microprocessor control

Rohde & Schwarz presented the SMPU in 1974, the world’s first microprocessor-controlled radio measuring instrument. It combined the functionality of several instruments and was used in the manufacture of the of radio equipment and modules. The SMPU significantly reduced the time needed for test and measurement, which has always been a critical cost in production. Combined with the Tektronix 4051 desktop computer, the SMPU was the only fully automated measurement system for the Tornado fighter aircraft.

1950

First vector network analyzer worldwide (the Zg diagraph)

The Rohde & Schwarz Test and Measurement Division also developed new test and measurement equipment independently of the new audio broadcasting and television division. For example, the Zg diagraph was a significant step in the company’s development. It was the world‘s first vector network analyzer and went into series production in 1950. The Zg diagraph was used for measuring radio and television antennas as well as two- and four-pole networks.

1955/57

EK07, the first shortwave receiver

The first truly successful radio technology product was the EK 07 shortwave receiver, used as an operational and monitoring receiver in mobile and fixed radio stations under the most adverse conditions. During a Belgian-Dutch South Pole expedition in 1964, for example, participants reported the unit’s excellent quality in a telegram to Rohde & Schwarz.

1957

NAP1 Automatic Direction Finder

Air traffic increased steadily during the 1950s and radio direction finding became an essential addition to the technology already in use. R&S developed its first handoperated rotary Adcock antenna for improved location of aircraft in 1953, and later the NAP1 automatic direction finder, which operated on a circulation principle. Testing started at Munich's Riem Airport as early as 1955, and the system went into full operation just two years later.

1958

SWOB polyscope (wideband sweep generator)

Another important measuring instrument developed in the 1950s was the SWOB polyscope. The polyscope wideband sweeper was used to automatically display the frequency dependence of measured values. At the time, the sweep method it used, in which a generated frequency sweeps or wobbles cyclically between two end values, was considered imprecise. But the SWOB dispelled that misconception and became a bestseller.

1933

Founding the Company

In the summer of 1933, Dr. Lothar Rohde and Dr. Hermann Schwarz rented a 120-square-meter apartment at 36 Thierstrasse in Munich, which they converted into an electrotechnical laboratory. The 'Physikalisch-Technische Entwicklungslabor' ('Physical-Technological Development Laboratory', or PTE), as Rohde & Schwarz was initially called, was founded on November 17, 1933.

1938

First portable crystal clock

One of the highlights of the 1930s was the world's first portable crystal clock, the CFQ. Compared to other crystal clocks, typically the size of a wardrobe, the crystal clock from PTE (now Rohde & Schwarz) weighed just 36 kilograms.

1940

WIP all-wave frequency meter

The WIP all-wave frequency meter was based on research the founders had worked on while still university students. The frequency meter featured a crystal with a known frequency thas was compared with the frequency to be measured. The instrument covered a measuring range from 50 to 50,000 kHz and was used for laboratory tasks and testing for commercial research. It was sold around the world for over 20 years.

1949

Europe's first VHF transmitter

On January 18, 1949, Rohde & Schwarz received an order from Radio München, the predecessor of the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation, to build and test a VHF FM transmitter. Originally scheduled for completion on March 1, 1949, Europe's first VHF station went into operation on February 28.