OSLO -- Building on the strong international NATO cooperation within the ground based domain, as well as strategic bilateral defense ties, the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA) has signed an agreement with the Netherlands Defense Materiel Organization (DMO) for the acquisition of five Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact radars (GM200 MM/C). The agreement includes an option for three additional systems.

Troops today face a multitude of ever-evolving threats in the battlefield, including advancements in the area of indirect fire (observation, range, speed, accuracy), threatening a radar's capacity to detect targets in a very short time span while potentially becoming a target itself. To protect high-value assets and troops, Thales offers time-on-target solutions from the Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission family - radars that are able to detect smaller, faster, more agile targets at longer ranges, while retaining a very high tactical mobility and a very short deployment time.

This (according to Thales) first ever Government-to-Government contract between the countries will provide the Norwegian and Netherlands Armed Forces with a common radar platform for further collaboration in the areas of threat assessment. The GM200 MM/C radar is designed for the modern battlefield, with operational excellence and military doctrine development in mind. Both parties will benefit from the latest in software defined radar technology, enabling future upgrades and capabilities expansion to manage the ever-evolving spectrum of future threats.

Thales calls the GM200 MM/C one of most flexible radars on the market today, and says it offers radar operators more time-on-target in order to gather as much information on incoming threats as possible. Featuring new-generation 4D Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, a 'dual-axis multi-beam' providing flexibility in elevation and bearing, it offers excellent theater protection. The radar automatically detects, tracks, and classifies multiple UAVs, RAM (Rockets, Artillery, Mortar), missiles, aircraft, helicopters, and is particularly suited to weapon locating, air surveillance, and air defense. In addition, the compact design of the GM200 MM/C provides increased mobility, shorter deployment times, and ease of transportation.

"This is a very important milestone in the close military cooperation between Norway and the Netherlands. This agreement will provide the Norwegian Armed Forces with a new artillery location system with sufficient protection, mobility, range, and accuracy to be able to be used in all types of operations both nationally and internationally," said Rear Admiral Bjørge Aase, Deputy Director General in the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency.

"The procurement of the MMR by Norway creates a common radar platform that can be further developed by the Norwegian and Netherlands forces based on threat evaluation and doctrine development. Both countries benefit from the software-based radar that enables upgrades and performance enhancements in order to counter future threats, such as drones," said the Netherlands Defense Materiel Organization.

"This is a historic moment on two levels. Firstly, it reinforces the strong bilateral strategic defense cooperation between Norway and the Netherlands. Secondly, this contract represents the first NL MOD G2G support to the Dutch defense industry and, in particular, Thales. We hope this model is the blueprint for more G2G projects in the future," said Gerben Edelijn, CEO Thales Netherlands

Ground Master 200 Multi Mission Family The Ground Master 200 Multi Mission family (GM200 MM) is the latest generation of Thales' medium range ground radar, including Thales 4D AESA technology. It benefits from Thales GM200 and NS100/200 technology background and many years fielded experience of more than 20 user groups.

The GM200 MM exists in two different mobile versions: The Ground Master 200 Multi Mission "all in one" (GM200 MM/A) targets mainly Air Surveillance as well as GBAD operations (up to low level MRAD). It maintains the GM200 integrated C2 shelter and facilitates space for the radar mast to gain elevation for low-level air surveillance and two operators on board.

The Ground Master 200 Multi Mission "compact" version (GM200 MM/C) is a pallet version offering higher tactical mobility and quicker deployment, as well as specific mission capabilities such as artillery Counter Battery and Weapon Locating. It also suits well VSHOR/SHORAD missions as its GM200 MM/A brother. Both versions are easy to transport, optimized for network centric remote operations, and ultimately save time in planning, training and operation.

4D AESA family Thales' scalable and upgradable antenna architecture is the core of Thales' new medium- and long-range 4D AESA radar family (NS50, NS100/200, GM200 MM, SMART-L MM / F, Sea Fire and Ground Fire).

The fully digital & software-defined 4D AESA radar technology offers upgrade capacity over the whole life cycle to maintain the tailored operational capability against evolving threats, including enhanced tracking and classification performance.

Source: Thales