The new contract between Thales and Indonesian C4ISR equipment manufacturer PT Len includes Thales GM403 air surveillance radars and SkyView C2 systems to boost Indonesia’s air defence capabilities. The new systems will be installed across the Indonesian archipelago over several years and are set to provide the country with the ability to detect threats from jets, missiles, rotorcraft and UAS. The news comes a month after Thales and PT Len signed a new strategic partnership to explore joint development of C2 systems, military satellites, C5ISR, EW, UAVs and naval combat management systems.
The deal, signed at Thales’ headquarters in Paris on 17 May, Thales will build 13 surveillance radars, and C2 systems. PT Len will construct the radar stations and also provide installation and integration of the systems and manage civil works for the programme. Certain components of the radars will be locally manufactured by PT Len and the project will involve the transfer of radar technology. Established since 1965, LEN (National Institute for electrical engineering) is a State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) currently under the coordination of the Ministry of State Enterprises with 100% ownership by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Ground Master 400 is a mobile radar system manufactured by Thales-Raytheon Systems, then Thales Group. GM400 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 GM400 family includes the GM403 and the GM406. The GM406 is primarily designed to equip fixed sites, with the GM403 designed to be deployable.
Thales solution encompasses Thales Ground Master radar stations, communication means, SkyView Air Command & Control with the possible integration of legacy assets and external systems. SkyView allows nations to maintain efficient air sovereignty with a highly reliable, single, integrated Air picture. The SkyView system processes data from more than 600 radars to provide operators with a single, integrated picture of airspace by correlating civil and military data in real-time. Used by airforces from 12 countries, the system allows users to meet current and future mission needs. It is also said to be interoperable for joint and coalition operational missions.
