BUCHAREST / PARIS — Romania and France have signed a government-to-government agreement for the acquisition of 12 Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission All-in-one (GM200 MM/A) air defense radars, strengthening Romania's air surveillance capabilities as part of its ongoing military modernization programme.
The agreement was signed between the Romanian General Directorate for Armaments and France's Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) and was officially announced on July 24, 2026. The procurement is intended to enhance Romania's national defense framework and reinforce the protection of NATO's eastern flank.
Acquisition Funded Under EU SAFE Programme
The purchase is financed through the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, a €150 billion financial instrument adopted in May 2025 to support joint defense investments and address critical capability gaps among EU member states.
The radar acquisition forms part of Romania's broader military modernization programme, which also includes a recently finalized agreement for 12 Airbus military helicopters. France is managing the procurement through its French Acquisition for Strategic Partners (FASt) mechanism, operated by the DGA on behalf of partner nations.
Commenting on the agreement, Patrick Pailloux, France's Director General for Armaments, said the orders are being executed through the FASt mechanism and noted that the programme further strengthens Franco-Romanian cooperation by supporting Romania's decision to equip its armed forces with French industrial solutions.
GM200 MM/A Radar Capabilities
The Ground Master 200 MM/A (GM200 MM/A) is a combat-proven, medium-range 4D Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar built on software-defined technology.
According to Thales, the radar has an instrumented range of up to 350 kilometers and is designed to detect and track a wide variety of aerial threats, including low-flying drones, aircraft and missiles.
The system is capable of carrying out multiple missions simultaneously, including:
- Air surveillance
- Surface surveillance
- Weapon coordination
- Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (RAM) sense-and-warn missions
Its all-in-one design integrates the radar, mast and power generator into a single 20-foot ISO shelter, making the system fully vehicle-mobile. The radar can be deployed in less than 15 minutes, allowing rapid operational deployment when required.
Strengthening Low-Altitude Air Defense
Improving the detection of low-altitude threats has become an operational priority for Romania.
Earlier this month, Interim National Defence Minister Radu Miruta highlighted the importance of acquiring the new radar systems to improve the country's ability to detect low-flying drones operating near its borders.
Although deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027, the first radar unit has been expedited and is expected to arrive within 11 months.
Industrial Cooperation in Romania
The agreement also includes an industrial cooperation component aimed at expanding Romania's domestic radar expertise.
Thales, which has operated in Romania for more than two decades and currently employs more than 850 people in the country, will establish a new Radar Competence Centre to support the programme. Romania already hosts one of the company's global engineering competence centres.
Pascale Sourisse, Senior Executive Vice-President for International Development at Thales, said the company fully supports Romania's ambition to develop long-term industrial capacity and expertise in the radar sector. She added that the new Radar Competence Centre will support the agreement while expanding partnerships with Romanian industry, strengthening localization, sustaining operational readiness and contributing to future NATO and European initiatives involving Romania.
Programme Timeline
The purchase was approved in May 2026 under the EU SAFE loan programme.
According to related reporting, the acquisition of the 12 GM200 MM/A radars is valued at approximately €247 million, while the overall programme is estimated at around €258 million. Full deliveries are expected to be completed by 2030.
Source : thalesgroup
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