Thales and Tawazun Council sign accord to establish Ground Master radar production in UAE

Thales and Tawazun Council, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) defence and security acquisitions authority, have signed a co-operation agreement to produce Thales Ground Master series air surveillance radars in the UAE.

The signing took place during the ‘Make it in the Emirates 2025’ event in Abu Dhabi on 20 May, with Matar Ali Al Romaithi, sector chief of defence and security industry affairs at Tawazun Council, and Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales in the UAE, alongside representatives from both sides.

The Thales Ground Master range includes the Ground Master 400 Alpha 3D long-range air surveillance radar and the Ground Master 200 range of medium-range multi-mission radars. The facility that will build them in the UAE is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, where it will assemble, test and qualify the radars to meet both domestic and export market needs.

This factory will serve as a strategic asset, bolstering the UAE’s defence manufacturing capabilities, enhancing self-sufficiency in critical technologies and providing flexibility to address varying operational requirements, according to Thales.

“A core pillar of Thales Radar Centre of Excellence’s expansion is the development of Emirati talents,” Thales stated in a press release. “Thales places localisation at the heart of its growth strategy through advanced training programmes and sustainable professional career development, building specialised local expertise in advanced radar technologies in support of the UAE’s National Defence Strategy and its vision of a highly capable, future-ready national workforce. As the project is not only focused on building the radar system, but also on qualifying domestic suppliers, it further contributes to strengthening the national industrial base and promoting long-term self-reliance.”

Commenting on the agreement, the Tawazun Council’s Romaithi stated, “The expansion of Thales’ Radar Centre of Excellence reflects the strength of the UAE’s defence-industrial strategy and its regional leadership in advanced technologies. This initiative enhances national capabilities in air surveillance radar systems while creating significant opportunities for local companies to grow, innovate, and compete globally.”

Hervé Dammann, executive vice-president of the Thales Land and Air Systems business, added, “Thales is proud to contribute to the growth of the UAE’s industrial defence ecosystem by advancing local capabilities, in line with the national vision. The expansion of our Radar Centre of Excellence, through the establishment of a new production facility, marks a major milestone – from integration, testing, manufacturing to lifecycle support. This investment reinforces the UAE’s sovereignty in critical defence technologies, strengthens the national supply chain, embarks UAE talents and deepens local expertise in advanced radar systems.”