Paris Air Show 2023: Thales, PT Len partner on Indonesian air surveill…

Thales has partnered with PT Len to provide 13 GM400α long-range air surveillance radars (pictured) and the SkyView command-and-control system to the Indonesian National Armed Forces. (Thales)

Thales will supply 13 Ground Master 400 Alpha (GM400α) long-range air surveillance radars and the associated SkyView command-and-control (C2) system to Indonesia, in collaboration with its local partner, PT Len Industri.

The contract will “span the next few years” with Thales building the radars and the C2 system and PT Len manufacturing “certain components” of the radars, establishing the radar stations, and supporting the installation and integration of the systems, the two companies announced in a media release on 19 June at the Paris Air Show 2023.

Thales and PT Len said the GM400α radars will be installed across the Indonesian archipelago to support the TNI to detect different types of threats “from jets and missiles to hovering helicopters and UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles]”.

Yves Descourvieres, head of product management at Thales, told Janes on 19 June the 13 GM400α radars are expected to provide surveillance coverage for about half of Indonesia's territory.

In May 2022 Thales and PT Len were awarded a contract to supply the TNI with the French company's Ground Master 403 (GM403) air surveillance radars and the SkyView C2 system. Thales has not confirmed whether the new contract will feature the supply of the GM400α instead of the GM403 or is in addition to the GM403.

Thales had not provided more information about the contract at the time of publication.