Thales Ground Fire Radar Mass Production Boosts SAMP/T NG with Advanced AESA Technology

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In early 2025, Thales achieved a significant milestone in European defense technology with the mass production of its Ground Fire air surveillance and air defense radar. This achievement followed the successful completion of the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) in the presence of representatives from the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA). The Ground Fire radar is designed specifically for the French version of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG system, a next-generation European medium- and long-range ground-based air defense solution. With its cutting-edge capabilities, Ground Fire is set to redefine the standards of air defense, offering unmatched detection, tracking, and classification performance.

Ground Fire Thales. Photo: thalesgroup.com

Key Performance Features of Ground Fire

At the heart of Ground Fire lies its advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, which employs full digital multi-beamforming in the S-band. This technological foundation allows the radar to deliver exceptional performance in detecting, tracking, and classifying a wide range of aerial threats. Unlike conventional radar systems, Ground Fire is designed to operate effectively even in complex environments such as mountainous terrain or congested airspaces.

One of its most remarkable features is its unique one-second refresh rate, which ensures near real-time updates of the aerial picture. With a surveillance range of 400 kilometers, full 360° azimuth coverage, and complete 90° elevation coverage, Ground Fire is capable of detecting threats ranging from small drones to high-speed ballistic missiles. This comprehensive detection capability ensures that armed forces remain vigilant across all dimensions of the battlespace.

The radar can rotate at high speed while maintaining precise detection of ballistic missile classes. This ensures that the system can provide continuous coverage beyond 360°, a critical factor in supporting successful interceptions by ASTER missiles. Thales integrating ballistic missile defense capabilities into a high‑speed rotating antenna operating at 1 Hz. This ensures full 360° coverage against advanced threats, including maneuvering ballistic missiles.

Ground Fire leverages state‑of‑the‑art technologies such as full digital processing, two‑dimensional multibeam operation, and Doppler waveforms. These innovations enable it to detect a wide spectrum of targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles, hovering helicopters, RAM (rocket, artillery, and mortar) threats, anti‑radiation missiles, maneuvering aircraft, low‑flying cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and even hypersonic weapons. Its integrated Digital Twin, combined with AI‑based engineering tools, ensures that the radar can continue to evolve and adapt to future challenges, maintaining its relevance in the rapidly changing landscape of air and missile defense.

The Ground Fire radar is a multi‑functional system composed of a radar module and a power generator module, both mounted on all‑terrain military trucks. The radar module houses a powerful S‑band AESA antenna positioned alongside an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) antenna, as well as advanced processing units and auxiliary equipment. This configuration allows the system to simultaneously perform surveillance, target tracking, and fire control functions, making it a versatile asset for modern air defense operations.

Mobility is a defining characteristic of Ground Fire. Both the radar unit and its power generator are designed to fit within standard ISO container dimensions, making transportation straightforward across multiple platforms. The system is optimized for rapid deployment, with a setup time of less than 15 minutes and a redeployment time of under 10 minutes. This high level of mobility ensures that Ground Fire can be repositioned quickly in response to evolving operational requirements, providing tactical flexibility and survivability in contested environments.

Ground Fire is engineered for long‐term reliability and simplified maintenance. The radar's antenna array and drive systems incorporate redundancy, enabling the system to achieve a Mean Time Between Critical Failures (MTBCF) of more than 2,500 hours. Maintenance tasks are streamlined through the integration of a modern Built‐In Test Equipment (BITE) system, which connects directly to electronic maintenance manuals. These manuals include detailed illustrations and instructional videos, ensuring that operators can perform servicing efficiently. Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) are also easily accessible through dedicated hatches, further reducing downtime.

Replacing the Arabel Radar in SAMP/T Systems

Ground Fire is set to replace the Arabel radar in the existing SAMP/T systems currently deployed across Europe. The SAMP/T NG (New Generation) system, jointly developed by France and Italy, is a cornerstone of European air defense. By integrating Ground Fire, the system gains enhanced detection and tracking capabilities, which in turn maximize the performance of the next-generation ASTER 30 missiles.

This integration not only strengthens France’s national defense but also positions the country as a leader in medium- and long-range air and missile defense within Europe. The modernization of the SAMP/T system with Ground Fire ensures that European forces remain equipped to counter evolving aerial threats in an increasingly contested security environment.

Production and Delivery Timeline

Thales has demonstrated its industrial capacity by doubling the production of air surveillance and defense radars in 2024, ensuring readiness to meet the growing demand for advanced defense systems. Beginning in 2026, eight Ground Fire radars will be delivered to the French armed forces. This delivery schedule underscores Thales’ commitment to supporting France and Europe in safeguarding their airspace sovereignty through reliable and scalable production.

The mass production of Ground Fire also reflects the broader European effort to enhance collective defense capabilities. By ensuring timely delivery and operational readiness, Thales contributes directly to the resilience of European defense infrastructure.

Rigorous Testing and Validation

The successful FAT marked the culmination of an extensive series of tests conducted at Thales’ Limours site near Paris. These tests were designed to validate the radar’s performance across a wide range of operational scenarios, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of reliability and effectiveness.

The FAT is a critical milestone in the lifecycle of any defense system, as it provides assurance to both the manufacturer and the client that the system is ready for operational deployment. For Ground Fire, the FAT confirmed its ability to deliver superior detection and tracking performance, even under challenging conditions.

System Architecture and Interoperability

One of the defining strengths of Ground Fire is its open system architecture. This design philosophy facilitates seamless integration and interoperability with other European defense systems. In an era where multinational cooperation is essential for effective defense, such interoperability enhances the collective air defense capabilities of Europe.

The radar’s architecture also ensures strategic autonomy, enabling rapid availability and deployment without reliance on external systems. Furthermore, its compact design—equivalent in size to an ISO container—ensures high mobility, with reduced setup and departure times. This mobility is particularly valuable for tactical operations, where rapid redeployment can be the difference between success and vulnerability.

Program Oversight and Industrial Collaboration

The Ground Fire program is overseen by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on behalf of the French Ministry of Armed Forces and the DGA. Eurosam serves as the prime contractor for the overall SAMP/T NG system, while Thales is responsible for several key components, including the Ground Fire radar-based fire control unit.

This collaborative framework highlights the importance of industrial partnerships in advancing European defense capabilities. By pooling expertise and resources, companies like Thales and Eurosam ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of technological innovation in air and missile defense.

Strategic Implications for European Defense

The deployment of Ground Fire radars carries significant strategic implications. By enhancing the detection and engagement capabilities of the SAMP/T NG system, Ground Fire strengthens Europe’s ability to defend against a wide spectrum of aerial threats, including drones, aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

Moreover, the system contributes to Europe’s strategic autonomy by reducing dependence on non-European defense technologies. This autonomy is crucial in ensuring that European nations can independently safeguard their airspace and respond effectively to emerging threats.

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