Sweden orders Ground Master 200 Multi Mission/Compact radar

The first GM200 MM/C radar handed over to the Royal Netherlands Army by Thales in Hengelo on 14 February 2024. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)

Sweden has ordered the Ground Master 200 (GM200) Multi Mission/Compact (MM/C) radar from Thales, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) and company have announced. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026.

The FMV said on its website on 4 April that the MM/C would replace the Swedish Armed Forces' existing PS-871 2D reconnaissance radar, which is used to detect and track sea and low-flying aerial targets, reaching the end of its service life. FMV medium-range radar project manager Per Schylström said the MM/C would contribute to improving air and sea situational awareness, with its mobility allowing it to reinforce priority areas more quickly.

An important factor in selecting the MM/C was security of supply, for which the FMV said it had to spread risks regarding delivery capacity while requiring high overall production capacity. In a 7 April press release announcing the Swedish MM/C order, Thales noted that it had a programme to ramp up production and the ability to produce with short lead times.

The company said, “The GM200 MM/C medium-range radar will contribute to strengthening the recognised air picture for the Swedish Armed Forces. The radar delivers more time-on-target across a wide spectrum of threats thanks to the latest generation in 4D AESA [active electronically scanned array] technology. The compact design of the system also provides increased mission flexibility due to its mobility and short deployment times.” The AESA radar produces a dual-axis multibeam providing unrestricted beam-steering flexibility in elevation and bearing, according to Thales.