The Norwegian and Dutch defense procurement agencies have entered into an agreement under which the Netherlands would buy multi-mission radars for Norway.
The Netherlands already bought 9 of these systems from Thales Nederland in 2019 and will now exercise a contract option to buy five more units for Norway. The agreement also includes an option for three additional systems.
Thales will deliver the Norwegian systems from the end of 2023, while the Royal Netherlands Army will receive them between 2022 and 2024.
The Ground Master 200 multi-mission compact radars (GM200 MM/C) enable situational awareness through 4D active electronically scanned array (AESA), with fire support and weapon location capabilities.
The radar automatically detects, tracks and classifies multiple UAVs, RAM (rockets, artillery, mortar), missiles, aircraft, helicopters and is suited for weapon locating, air surveillance and air defense. In addition, the compact design of the GM200 MM/C provides high mobility and short deployment times.
DMO, the Dutch defense procurement agency, noted that Norway’s purchase of the radars would create a common radar platform on which Norwegian and Dutch armed forces can jointly further develop the systems on the basis of threat evaluation and doctrine development.
“This is a very important milestone in the close military cooperation between Norway and the Netherlands. This agreement will provide the Norwegian Armed Forces with a new artillery location system with sufficient protection, mobility, range and accuracy to be able to be used in all types of operations both nationally and internationally.” Rear Admiral Bjørge Aase, Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency deputy director general, commented.
“This is a historic moment on two levels. Firstly, it reinforces the strong bilateral strategic defense cooperation between Norway and the Netherlands. Secondly, this contract represents the first Dutch government to government support to the Dutch defense industry and in particular Thales. We hope this model is the blueprint for more G2G projects in the future,” Gerben Edelijn, CEO Thales Netherlands, added.
