Thales Unleashes Full Production of Ground Fire Radar for Next-Gen SAMP/T NG Air Defense System
Thales’s Ground Fire air monitoring and defense radar has commenced continuous series production as of early 2025, after successful factory acceptance evaluations (FAT) overseen by France’s Armament General Directorate (DGA). This radar will enhance the French variant of the latest Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG system, delivering medium- and long-range air defense with a 400 km surveillance capacity, 360° azimuth, and complete 90° elevation coverage.
A total of eight Ground Fire radars will be supplied to the French Armed Forces starting in 2026, reinforcing Thales’s capability to bolster national and European airspace security. Thales has tripled its radar manufacturing capability from 2022 to 2024 and continues to expand to meet rising operational requirements.
The factory evaluations constituted the final phase of a prolonged series of assessments conducted at Thales’s Limours facility near Paris, validating the optimal functionality of the new radar system. The Ground Fire employs fully digital multiple beamforming AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) technology in the S-band, facilitating the detection, tracking, and categorization of numerous threats in intricate environments, including drones and ballistic missiles.
Its swift one-second refresh rate and comprehensive 360° elevation detection align with modern military demands for an accurate and current air picture. Tailored for mobility and quick deployment, the system fits within an ISO container, significantly reducing encampment and decampment durations.
Featuring an open architecture for interoperability, the radar seamlessly integrates with other European systems, enhancing collaborative air defense capabilities and strategic independence. The Ground Fire supersedes the Arabel radar in the original SAMP/T system and boosts the efficacy of next-generation ASTER 30 missiles.
The program is overseen by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) for France’s Armed Forces Ministry and the DGA, with Eurosam serving as the prime contractor and Thales providing various components, including the Ground Fire-based fire control unit.
Eric Huber, Vice-President of Surface Radars at Thales, stated: “The Ground Fire, engineered and manufactured in Europe, will play a vital role in a resilient European air defense structure. We have instituted all essential procedures to expedite industrial production, tripling radar output at our Limours factory from 2022 to 2024 and enhancing the resilience of our supply chain and partner ecosystem, to guarantee prompt delivery in support of air surveillance and air defense for European nations.”
