Morocco strengthens air defense with Thales Ground Master 400 Radar

Morocco has reinforced further its airspace defense with the acquisition of Thales Ground Master 400 radar, offering the Royal Armed forces tactical advantage as the mobile radar system can easily deploy and detect all types of aerial threats.

 

The delivery of the long-range radar was made end July 2021 under a contract signed in 2019 with the Royal Moroccan Air Force (in addition to a previous order placed in 2013), said the French group in a press release issued Monday.

 

“With the Ground Master 400, the Royal Moroccan Air Force has a decisive advantage in terms of territorial protection and air surveillance. Thales is a long-standing partner of the Kingdom of Morocco”, said Christophe Salomon, Executive Vice President, Land & Air Systems, Thales.

 

The GM-400 “deployment reflects Morocco’s continuing confidence in Thales. We are proud to have reached the 100Th milestone of the Ground Master family, a game changing family of radars for superior situational awareness with a solid reputation for performance and reliability for national sovereignty”, underlined Mr. Salomon.

 

Designed to offer unprecedented deployability and survivability, the GM400 fits into compact 20 ft containers with built-in lifting systems, and offer excellent redeployment times. Fixed versions of this radar system are also available for countries planning a permanent air surveillance of their national airspace.

 

In another development, several press reports said that Israeli defense company Rafael has voiced readiness to supply Morocco with its “Iron Dome” missile-defense system which is used by several countries including the United States.

 

Last week, Spanish daily La Razón reported the deployment of missiles by Algerian army near border with Morocco which the Algerian military junta falsely blames for the death of three Algerian truck drivers.

 

Tension is building between Morocco and Algeria over the Sahara issue. Frustrated by its diplomatic & economic failures amid a growing popular protest movement, the Algerian regime has cut diplomatic ties with Rabat, closed its airspace to Moroccan aircraft and stopped exporting gas to Europe via the pipeline crossing Morocco in a bid to weaponize its gas supply.