Thales Launches Complete Manufacturing of Ground-based Fire Radar for Advanced SAMP/T NG Air Defense System
Thales’s Ground Fire aerial surveillance and defense radar has initiated ongoing series production as of early 2025, following successful factory acceptance tests (FAT) conducted by France’s Armament General Directorate (DGA). This radar will augment the French model of the latest Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG system, providing medium- and long-range aerial defense with a 400 km detection capability, 360° azimuth coverage, and complete 90° elevation range.
A total of eight Ground Fire radars will be delivered to the French Armed Forces beginning in 2026, amplifying Thales’s ability to enhance national and European airspace safety. Thales has increased its radar production potential threefold from 2022 to 2024 and is actively expanding to satisfy growing operational needs.
The factory assessments represented the final stage of an extensive series of evaluations performed at Thales’s Limours facility near Paris, confirming the exceptional performance of the new radar system. The Ground Fire utilizes fully digital multi-beamforming AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) technology in the S-band, enabling the detection, tracking, and classification of various threats in complex environments, including unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic missiles.
Its rapid one-second refresh rate and extensive 360° elevation detection correspond with contemporary military requirements for an accurate and real-time aerial overview. Designed for mobility and prompt deployment, the system is housed within an ISO container, significantly decreasing setup and takedown times.
Featuring an open architecture for seamless interoperability, the radar integrates flawlessly with other European systems, enhancing joint air defense capabilities and strategic autonomy. The Ground Fire replaces the Arabel radar in the original SAMP/T system and improves the effectiveness of advanced ASTER 30 missiles.
The initiative is managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) for France’s Armed Forces Ministry and the DGA, with Eurosam acting as the primary contractor and Thales supplying various components, including the Ground Fire-based fire control unit.
Eric Huber, Vice-President of Surface Radars at Thales, remarked: “The Ground Fire, designed and produced in Europe, will be crucial in a robust European air defense framework. We have implemented all necessary processes to accelerate industrial production, tripling radar throughput at our Limours factory from 2022 to 2024 while enhancing the resilience of our supply chain and partner network, ensuring timely delivery in support of air monitoring and defense for European countries.”
