Abstract: Device for determining the charge profile in a shaft furnace. In order to be able to scan the entire burden surface at least over a right-angle graticule, a radar unit is arranged at the front end of a tubular lance, which latter can be radially introduced into the furnace, the beam direction of this radar unit being pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the tubular lance bilaterally over a predetermined angle, as well as about a transverse axis extending perpendicularly thereto, approximately by the same angle in the forward direction. The device is suitable for scanning the entire burden surface in a graticule mode as well as line-by-line, and the scanning results of the device can be made visible and can also be used as input data for the automatic control of the shaft furnace.