Searchmaster ready for delivery
Thales’ Searchmaster radar has been declared ready for delivery to its first export customer, the company announced on 5 April.
Searchmaster was first selected in 2014 by the French defence procurement agency as part of the Altantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft upgrade programme for the French Navy. Production was launched in 2016 and the radar has since been selected by several international customers.
The Searchmaster multi-role surveillance radar is designed to meet the needs of both maritime and ground surveillance as well as providing tactical air support in both of these environments. The radar uses Active Electronic Scanning Antenna technology and is tailored to fly on all platform types.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine
NAVSEA is exploring AI-assisted design for a larger, stealthier submarine with increased weapons capacity and uncrewed-system integration, with lead-boat procurement envisaged from 2040.
-
ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign
A six-ship home order, agreements with Saab, Naval Group and Babcock and spare yard capacity underpin the group’s first Euronaval bid for smaller European navies.
-
Navies need cheaper ways to defeat drones, but can they sustain merchant protection?
New interceptors and launchers could help navies preserve missile stocks during prolonged escort operations. Yet lower engagement costs will only improve merchant protection if the weapons are available where ships need defending.
-
Euronaval 2026: Red Cat’s Blue Ops follows USV demand from Asia to the Andes
With its B-26 USV in full-rate production, Blue Ops is seeking to turn overseas interest into orders through a combination of lower operating costs, UAV integration and local manufacturing.
-
Euronaval 2026: ‘I want to sell 31 Type 31s by 2031’ - CGO maps Babcock’s global push
Chief growth officer Sir Nick Hine tells Shephard how Babcock is lining up New Zealand, Chile, Denmark and the US for its Arrowhead 140 frigate, speaks on the hybrid navy offer and talks AUKUS.