Thales unveils the future ground application of its multifunction radar

On the first day of the Paris Air Show, Thales is unveiling its Ground Fire family: a range of latest-generation multifunction ground radar. The radar system, which is fully digital, will carry out air defence and surveillance missions simultaneously.

Key Points

• The Ground Fire multifunction radar will offer a new approach in terms of performance, scalability and operational costs.
• Using Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, the Ground Fire range is fully digital.
• Very compact and deployable in under 15 minutes, the Ground Fire range will be mobile on any type of ground surface, and fully air transportable.

Air Forces today are confronted with major changes in the type of threats they face, as well as in their environment.  Targets can be very slow or extremely fast-moving, furtive and manoeuvring. In addition, military personnel often face very challenging interference conditions.  Consequently, they require a radar that allows them to perform all the missions they are expected to operate.  The Ground Fire family meets this requirement perfectly, since it offers an unprecedented level of performance for air and defence surveillance including anti-ballistic missiles with a capacity to conduct missiles from the Aster family in hostile environments (clutter, rain, jamming, etc.).

The Ground Fire versions, which are fully digital, are able to simultaneously detect and track a comprehensive range of targets such as ballistic missiles, with continuous 360° coverage in azimuth, up to 90° coverage in elevation and a range of 400 km. Very compact and deployable in under 15 minutes, the Ground Fire range will be extremely mobile and air transportable. The Ground Fire range system includes a mobile, truck-mounted antenna and is designed to operate on any type of ground surface.

The Ground Fire range is identical to the Sea Fire family - the naval version which is set to equip the future intermediate-size frigates of the French Navy. Both families are based on the principle of modular, scalable architecture. Like those of the Sea Fire radar, the transmitter/receiver modules that make up the antenna will all be identical and interchangeable, to facilitate series production and maintenance operations. It will be possible to adapt the number of modules in order to modify the strength of the radar depending on the user’s needs.

Thales has implemented defined, efficient industrial resources by integrating digital technologies into the very core of the production process. As a result, it is able to offer a highly innovative product at every level: technical, industrial, logistical and operational. The transmitter/receiver modules for the latest-generation radar are produced at the Thales site in Rouen, and will be integrated at the Thales site in Limours. 

«The latest-generation multifunction radar systems by Thales offer an unprecedented level of performance which make them unique on the market.  Their multi-mission and multi-application capabilities, as well as their modular adaptability, provide our armed forces and national territories with enhanced protection.»
Serge Adrian, Senior Vice President for surface radar activities, Thales