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The threat becomes even more complex when one adds the potential of new stealth technologies and small turbojet engines that can turn a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into a high-speed weapon with a radar cross-section the size of a small bird. The response has to be a robust, sophisticated, and above all, networked air defence system, capable of dealing with "fast movers" and "leakers" that penetrate friendly airspace. In the world of low-level, short-to-medium range air defence, the crucial factor is time; Engagement scenarios will frequently last mere seconds.

In air defence, Thales holds decades of experience and is already active in anticipating the future threat and is working with customers to provide effective solutions now and into the next generation of technology. Using a "multi-domestic" approach to designing systems, Thales makes the best use of its expertise from throughout the company in particular design and production from France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Thales provides air defence systems that cover the entire spectrum from Very Short-Range Air-Defence (VSHORAD) to ballistic Missile Defence and all levels in between. It is one of only three companies worldwide that can provide customers with complete, rapid-response air defence shields comprising sensors, command and control (C2), and weapons, managing all levels of threat from tactical to strategic. While stand-alone air-defence, whether MANPADS or vehicle-mounted, has been available for years, today the demand is for integrated and networked air-defence that leverages the latest in data processing and commercially derives architectures. Only a coordinated response that connects Air Traffic Control, Air Surveillance, and Air Defence can meet the demands necessitated by the changing threat.

The latest Thales offering in the world of air defence is the Multishield 20 which includes radar, Engagement and Control Station and missile units. This system integrates whatever vehicles and weapons the customer chooses to specify. The former could be wheeled or tracked; the latter could be infrared or radar-guided missiles or even guns.

The wide experience of Thales affords customers an opportunity to grow and mature air defence network that can intelligently link sensors, weapons, and command management in real time, from a tactical level up to a strategic one. Moving into the realm of Extended Air Defence and Medium range Surface to Air Missiles (MSAMs), Thales again offers a modular solution using proven "building blocks".

Thales engineers are working to provide systems that move from merely being able to coordinate actions, to being able to collaborate actively and to create "coherent" forces that can "plug and fight" in any scenario.