Thales Says Five Ground Master Radars Will Give Ireland Its First Fully Recognised Air Picture
Thales says Ireland's order of four GM400a and one GM200 MM/A radars will underpin the country's first fully Recognised Air Picture. Deliveries are due to start in 2027, with full capability expected by the end of 2028.
French manufacturer Thales said on Oct. 2 that Ireland's purchase of five of its Ground Master radars will be "instrumental" in building what the company calls the country's first fully Recognised Air Picture, Breaking Defense reported.
Ireland is buying four Ground Master 400 Alpha (GM400a) sensors and one Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission All-in-one (GM200 MM/A) system. The militarily neutral country is seeking a primary radar capability, which was a top priority in the 2022 Commission on Defence Forces report. That report drew on the limitations of the national defense forces and made recommendations meant to strengthen long-term planning and modernization.
A submission to the Commission argued that continued incursions by Russian jets into Irish-controlled airspace show why primary radar matters and why lacking it is dangerous. It said the absence of such radar points to a capability gap in the Air Corps and Defence Forces and also poses a major danger to civilian aircraft.
Talking about gap, it means that the Republic of Ireland currently cannot identify or track aircraft that do not emit a transponder signal.
According to the Thales statement, the first Ground Master deliveries to Ireland are scheduled for next year. Dublin expects to reach a full capability milestone before the end of 2028.
Authorities have not disclosed the cost of the acquisition. But some local media have reported an estimated €500 million.