This November 2021, the Ground Master radar family celebrates its 100th deployment worldwide following a site acceptance test for a Ground Master 400 by the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Thales delivered its 100th radar from the Ground Master family – a Ground Master 400 (GM400) to Morocco end July 2021, under a contract signed in 2019 with the Royal Moroccan Air Force (in addition to a previous order placed in 2013). Renown for outstanding reliability, unmatched performance and high mobility, the Ground Master radar family plays a critical role in air surveillance and defence worldwide. With its full digital architecture, the Ground Master family detects current and future air threats, at ranges of up to 500km, with superior low altitude detection, including slow moving UAV’s.
The Ground Master 400 is a mobile radar system manufactured by Thales-Raytheon Systems, then Thales Group.[1] GM 400 is a fully digital active electronically scanned array long-range air defense 3D radar, offering detection from very high to very low altitudes. It tracks a wide range of targets from highly maneuverable tactical aircraft flying below several hundred feet to the unconventional small radar cross section devices, such as UAVs or cruise missiles. The system can be set up by a four-man crew in 60 minutes and can be remotely operated. The system fits in a 20-feet shipping container and weighs less than ten tons. The system can be rapidly deployed mounted on a 6×6 or 8×8 tactical truck and can be transported by a single C-130 aircraft or a helicopter.
Since the first delivery in 2010, the Ground Master family of radars is constantly adapting to ever evolving threats, in particular UAV’s at low altitude. The GM radars’ digital architecture enables flexibility to innovate and anticipate new emerging challenges such as innovative algorithms mitigating the impact of wind turbines, whilst continuing to offer the best performance in the market in the long-run. This agility to adapt has made the GM radars, one of the best in class in its category, with outstanding sales records enabling the successful sale of more than 24 GM radars in 2020 alone. Designed to offer unprecedented deployability and survivability, the long-range and mid-range GM versions fit into compact 20 ft containers with built-in lifting systems, and offer excellent redeployment times.
Thales is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing – to build a confident future crucial for the development of our societies. The Group provides its customers – businesses, organisations and governments – in the defence, aeronautics, space, transport, and digital identity and security domains with solutions, services and products that help them fulfil their critical role, consideration for the individual being the driving force behind all decisions. Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2020 the Group generated sales of €17 billion.