Morocco’s Acquisition Sparks Global Demand for French Ground Master 400 Radar

"Everyone is trying to get" the French Ground Master 400 radar, which the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) had acquired in July 2021, under an agreement signed by Morocco and Thales in 2021, writes Politico, adding that the French group "is increasing its production to meet massive global demand." "About 50 kilometers south of Paris, a factory is trying to double the production of one of France’s best-selling military equipment: the Ground Master air surveillance radars," the American media reports. This decision is explained by the pressure exerted by French President Emmanuel Macron to stimulate defense production in response to the war in Ukraine and the need to modernize European armies after years of neglect, as well as the growing demand worldwide."

"Capable of detecting current and future air threats up to 500 km," the Ground Master 400 is highly appreciated for its high level of mobility, its exceptional reliability and its unparalleled performance in terms of air surveillance and defense worldwide. Fully digital, it allows long-range detection of threats evolving at low altitude, including drones evolving at low speed, Thales had specified in a press release. This radar also has new capabilities allowing them to distinguish drones from birds. "From Limours, the GM 400 Alpha, worth 30 million euros, can see planes over Bordeaux, 500 kilometers away. The GM 200s have a shorter range, between 250 and 350 kilometers," it is detailed.

First used in Morocco in 2013, in its GM403 version, this radar has proven to be very effective in its missions. It is "the first element to ensure sovereignty over the airspace of a country," says a French official on condition of anonymity. "With the Ground Master 400, the Royal Moroccan Air Force holds a decisive advantage in terms of protecting their territory and air surveillance," says Christophe Salomon, Deputy CEO of Land and Air Systems at Thales Group. Since 2008, France has sold 200 to 32 countries, including 40 units just in 2023.

According to observers, the warming of relations between Rabat and Paris could revive French arms sales to Morocco, reports Morocco World News. These sales had experienced a significant decline after the kingdom turned to other suppliers including Russia and Israel.