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Thales, the renowned defense giant, has announced a significant increase in the production of its air surveillance radars, in response to a surge in international demand. This decision comes amidst growing concerns stemming from Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has underscored the importance of investing in advanced radar systems.

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed the company's plans to double the production of one of its flagship Ground Master (GM) radars. Thales aims to escalate its annual production from approximately 10 to over 20 radars.

Yves Descourvieres, a Thales official, acknowledged the challenges associated with this endeavor. Scaling up production requires expanding the workforce, a task made more difficult by the company's location in a small town with a population of around 6,500.

To meet the increased demand, Thales is augmenting its workforce and transitioning to a two-shift system in its Limours factory. Additionally, the company has enhanced its testing infrastructure, adding a fourth test chamber for antennas and expanding testing zones from 12 to 17.

Efforts have also been made to streamline the supply chain, ensuring timely delivery of components and minimizing delays. Thales's family of GM radars, including the GM200 and GM400 Alpha, are renowned for their capabilities, with the latter boasting significantly enhanced processing power and an extended range of 500 kilometers.

Since 2008, Thales has reportedly sold more than 200 GM radars, with 40 units purchased in the previous year alone. The company's commitment to meeting the escalating demand for air surveillance radars reflects the evolving security landscape and the imperative of investing in advanced defense technologies.