Thales are to fortify Malaysia’s air sovereignty by clinching a recent deal to deliver the GM400a radar to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Source: Thales

Thales clinched a recent deal to deliver the GM400a long-range radar, accompanied by a complete station infrastructure, to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. 

Building on the success of its predecessor, the GM400, which saw the RMAF as its launch customer in 2009, Thales continues to be the partner for Malaysia’s air defence capabilities.

The GM400a boosts air surveillance and air defence for the RMAF. The radar’s mobility, enhanced processing power (around five times more), increased instrumented range (515km), and artificial intelligence capabilities improve situational awareness, offering more minutes for decision-making and action.

Denmark and the Netherlands recently solidified their strategic defence partnership by acquiring five Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact radars (GM200 MM/C) to enhance air surveillance and defence capabilities.

This radar, deployed in more than 20 nations, employs GaN technology and surveillance capabilities to detect various threats, from fast jets and missiles to hovering helicopters and UAVs flying close to the ground. In a world facing evolving threats and conflicts, the GM400a plays a role in maintaining airspace sovereignty, ensuring an up-to-date, recognized air picture.

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François-Xavier Boutes, country director, Malaysia, Thales, expressed his enthusiasm about the contract, stating, “We are thrilled that Thales’ GM400a radar is selected by the Royal Malaysian Air Force to be a strategic asset of Malaysia’s air defence and surveillance systems. This contract reinforces the defence cooperation between France and Malaysia, marking a new milestone in the ongoing success story that began in 2009.”

Malaysia is actively fortifying its national defence capabilities across land, air, and naval domains, marked by a surge in defence spending projected to reach $6.2bn (RM29.2bn) by 2028, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%, as per GlobalData’s intelligence on the Malaysia defence market. 

As Thales delivers a complete radar station, including infrastructure essentials, this collaboration signifies a step forward in securing Malaysia’s airspace.

Thales has reported an order intake of €12.4 billion, ($13.4bn) experiencing an 18% organic decrease, and sales of €12.9bn for the period ending September 30, 2023, reflecting a 7.5% organic decrease.