Thales technology to bolster Ukrainian air defence umbrella
The air defence system supplied by France to Ukraine will include a GM 200 radar. (Photo: Thales)
On 1 February French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Reznikov signed a contract for the supply of a complete short-range air defence system. The deal was signed at Thales' site in Limours near Paris.
The contract covers equipment including a GM200 radar, a command-and-control centre, a radio communications system and air target designators.
According to Thales, the GM200 and the other surface radars in the Ground Master family offer an effective response to the types of threats faced by Ukraine, which include drones and long-range threats such as cruise missiles, helicopters and combat aircraft.
Related Articles
PT Len, Thales to supply air defence capabilities to Indonesia
Ukraine air defences supplied by West force drop in Russian aircraft sorties
US backs Ukraine with Patriot air defence systems and JDAMs
'Thales is proud to be playing a part in the protection of Ukraine, in particular by providing air defence systems.' Patrice Caine, Thales' chairman and CEO said.
Customers for the GM200 include France, Georgia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Singapore and the UAE. The configuration to be supplied to Ukraine was unspecified but the radar can be mounted on a 20ft ISO container or in compact form on the back of a 6x6 truck.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Bids in for Canadian Bv206 replacement
If all goes to plan, initial delivery of the selected vehicle could take place in 2029/2030 with final delivery in 2031/2032. The Bv206 were supplied to Canada many years ago and are in urgent need of replacement. More than 11,000 Bv206 were built for worldwide sale.
-
Paris Air Show 2025: MBDA bets on carmaker to help make new one-way effector
The One-Way Effector (OWE) is a ground-launched missile or drome designed to act as a swarm to overwhelm air defence systems. It was displayed for the first time in Paris this week.
-
UK artillery factory opens as defence review inches forward
The new artillery and howitzer factory pre-dates the emphasis on this capability from this month’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The first joint industry-government meeting outlined in the review took place this week.
-
Refresh of Romanian army vehicles speeds up
Romania received its first Cobra MkII 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicles, ordered Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and VAMTAC light vehicles, and is set to invest billions-of-dollars in infantry fighting vehicles.
-
Italy begins hunt for Puma replacement
The Italian Army operates Pumas in 6×6 and 4×4 configurations but the platforms are ageing and numbers have fallen with obsolescence also being an issue. Any replacement is likely to have a focus on the involvement of local industry.
-
Orders roll in for VAMTAC tactical vehicles as first is delivered to New Zealand
The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico or High Mobility Tactical Vehicle) 4×4 by Urovesa is in service with or has been ordered by eight countries, the most recent being Spain this month and Romania last month.