Thales Delivers Surveillance Radar to Moldova

The Moldovan Armed Forces have taken delivery of a French Ground Master 200 mobile aerial target detection radar, as reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova.

The radar, purchased through state budget allocation, was manufactured by the French company Thales and arrived in Chișinău on December 20.

While the specific model is not explicitly mentioned in the official report, indications point to it being the Ground Master 200 system, consistent with prior statements made in October of this year.

Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi highlighted the radar's significance in fortifying Moldova's air defense capabilities. He emphasized its role in monitoring the entire airspace of the country and aligning with international standards for equipping the National Army.

The Moldovan government had previously entered into a contract for the procurement of one radar and related equipment, amounting to approximately €14.5 million.

The Ground Master 200, a multi-band radar manufactured by Thales Group, offers detection of air targets within a radius of up to 250 kilometers and at an altitude of up to 24 kilometers. The radar is designed to detect helicopters, planes, drones, cruise missiles, surface targets, and enemy artillery. Housed in a 20-foot ISO container weighing less than ten tons, the system includes an electric generator, a mast, and a room for two workstations equipped with a radio and data communications kit. Transport options for the radar encompass trucks, trains, cargo planes, and helicopters.

The introduction of this radar marks a step towards replacing older Soviet-era systems currently in service in Moldova, including the ST-68 radar stations and radio altimeters PRV-13.