Ukrainian Forces Forge New Partnership with Thales and France for Advanced Air Defense Shield
French Minister of Defence Sébastien Lecornu and his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Reznikov convened at the Thales facility in Limours, situated south of Paris, which serves as a hub of excellence for air defence in Europe, to formalise a contract for the provision of a comprehensive short-range air defence system, including a Ground Master 200 radar, intended to bolster Ukraine’s protection.
As a prominent European authority in systems-of-systems integration, Thales leverages its extensive air defence knowledge to assist nations in ensuring their sovereignty, safeguarding their citizens, and protecting their territorial interests.
Thales’s air defence innovations offer protection against diverse aerial threats across all airspace levels, encompassing the entire decision-making chain, from detection and identification to neutralisation.
Enhancing Ukraine’s Air Defence Capabilities
The agreement established by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, the French Ministry of Defence, and Thales entails the delivery of a holistic short-range air defence system, comprising a GM200 radar, a command-and-control centre, a radio communications system, and air target designators.
The visit to Limours by the two defence ministers included a comprehensive tour of Thales’s military radar design, production, and support facilities.
Today, Thales’s Limours establishment is acknowledged as Europe’s largest hub of expertise in the domain of air defence.
A Comprehensive Threat Detection and Defence System for Ukraine
To protect communities and military forces, threats must be identified as promptly as possible, regardless of their origin – at sea, in the sky, or on land.
To counter contemporary threats, which are increasingly elusive, more agile, and faster than ever before, air defence systems must have the ability to detect and monitor all types of targets, providing actionable intelligence on moving objects in the air, on land, or in maritime environments.
Thales has extensive experience in all facets of air defence, from drone countermeasures to anti-ballistic missile systems: surface radars, airborne radars, command centres, communication systems and equipment, along with various types of effectors.
The GM200 and other surface radars in the Ground Master family deliver an effective response to the multifaceted threats confronting Ukraine, including drones and long-range dangers such as cruise missiles, helicopters, and combat aircraft.
As a leading European expert in systems integration, Thales is equipped to integrate air defence systems-of-systems and to ensure compatibility with other defence assets, presenting a significant advantage for operators needing to deploy their resources efficiently and effectively.
“Thales is honoured to contribute to the safeguarding of Ukraine, particularly through the provision of air defence systems.” Patrice Caine, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
