The importance of Man-Pack Ground Combat Radars in controlling the battlefield

21st-century land warfare relies on modern, combat-proven technology where highly mobile troops in forward positions can provide real-time intelligence and conduct precision strikes. Yet their true combat value depends on specialised equipment.

Operating primarily dismounted and from forward positions presents its own unique set of challenges for specialised reconnaissance or infantry units. They basically have no other choice but deploying light! Without the guarantee to be re-supplied, they can only rely on their feet and backs to get the job done. Having to gather accurate and advanced information on the type, size and movements of enemy detachments, coordinating indirect fire attacks and maintaining control over the battlefield from a remote location requires very unique capabilities. These special soldiers must be able to cope with rapidly changing weather conditions while staying hidden from the enemy’s various recon assets. 

With many decades of experience in developing cutting-edge ground surveillance radars, Thales provides todays’ forward deployed troops with a war-proven, stand-off target acquisition, classification and indirect fire adjustment solution to help them control the battlefield. The Ground Observer 12 – Tactical Ground Combat Radar is the lightest, most compact man-pack radar of its class. Weighing only 16,7 kg and offering 28L in volume, its shoulder-width radar sensor can be carried on the back leaving sufficient weight reserves and room to take another 20-25 kg of essential kit, water, food and ammunition into combat. Due to the extremely low sensor power demand of 70W, GO12 can be operated self-sufficiently using light, compact 24V MOTS batteries in forward positions for days.  

As forward deployed, dismounted infantry and reconnaissance units do not only have to be able to cope with rugged terrain but also with changing climatic conditions, their equipment has to be designed to do the same. Extensive quality checks ensure radar operation from -35°C to +65°C. To allow operation even in heavy winds, the operating radar kit underwent wind load/ gust testing with up to 160 km/h wind speed in an automotive wind channel. GO 12 has a certified track record of being deployed on six continents ranging from Chile’s dusty Atacama Desert, Nigerias’s tropical savannahs to the extremely cold French Alps.

While being deployed with the French Army in “Operation Barkhane”, in Mali from 2019 to 2022, GO12 was permanently exposed to the extreme conditions of the A1 climate zone with temperatures of up to 43°C and daily temperature drops of up to 15°C. The new man-pack radar quickly became an extremely valuable target acquisition and indirect fire adjustment asset, significantly enhancing the precision and lethality of the French infantry, reconnaissance, mortar and artillery units. 

The 11th Marine Artillery Regiment’s feedback after the very first combat use in April/May 2019 says it all: “We gain in mobility, speed and efficiency. This system is a real added value in the field and contributes fully to the smooth running of the mission.” 

While the GO12 was very useful in the dynamic phases of a combat operation, it was equally helpful in providing force protection after setting up a temporary FOB for the night as stated by its operators: “If there's a threat to the camp, I'll sound the alarm long before the danger arrives”. GO12 also provided highly agile perimeter and flank protection for the permanent Combat Outposts Kidal, Tessalit, Menaka and Gossi, during convoy movements and special operations.