The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) has contracted Thales to provide Ground Master 200 MM/A and Ground Master 400 Alpha radars to strengthen the country’s airspace sovereignty, Thales announced on 28 January 2026.
The orders were placed during the 2026 DIMDEX defence exhibition, held in Doha from 19 to 22 January.
Thales describes the GM200 MM/A as an advanced aerial multi-mission radar, “with outstanding performances on small targets, up to a distance of 350 km”, while the GM400α “offers superior situational awareness, with an unmatched tracking ability from low, slow, small to highly manoeuvring threats, even in a dense clutter”.
Benefiting from a Secure Digital Integration Platform (SDIP), the GM200 MM/A and GM400α radars “provide an outstanding air picture with unequalled performance on difficult targets”, Thales stated, adding that their architecture also enables the preservation of a high-quality air picture with instant broadcasting, thanks to Secure network capabilities.
The company’s SDIP solution will allow the QEAF to subsequently integrate all existing non-US sensors into a single air picture.
In addition to providing the radars, a Thales team in Qatar will be responsible for maintenance and operator training on a daily basis until 2036 under the contract.
“We are proud to contribute to Qatar’s airspace sovereignty with our integrated air surveillance system based on our advanced medium and long-range tactical radars,” Raphael Desi, vice president for integrated airspace-protection systems activities at Thales, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The GM200 MM/A and the GM400α will support the Qatar Emiri Air Force in maintaining sovereignty and protecting their airspace against drones and other threats. This contract further demonstrates the enduring partnership between Thales and Qatar.”
Countries such as Qatar are increasingly investing in high-performance radars to counter the evolution of airborne threats such as from bomb-laden drones, but mush equally be able to integrate such high-fidelity systems into their national legacy radar network.
