Abu Dhabi: Tawazun Council and Thales have signed a cooperation agreement to locally produce Ground Master series air surveillance radars. This agreement supports the UAE's vision to boost local manufacturing and develop national defence capabilities.
According to Emirates News Agency, the signing took place on the second day of the "Make it in the Emirates 2025," with Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council, and Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales in the UAE, in attendance alongside representatives from both sides.
This initiative reflects Thales' commitment to supporting the UAE's vision of advancing manufacturing capabilities through innovation and industrial excellence. The Ground Master radars are internationally recognised for their performance, deployability, and adaptability to various missions, positioning them amongst leading air surveillance and defence systems globally.
The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, where it will assemble, test, and qualify air surveillance radars to meet both domestic and export market needs. The factory will serve as a strategic asset, enhancing the UAE's defence manufacturing capabilities and providing flexibility to address operational requirements.
A core pillar of Thales Radar Centre of Excellence's expansion is the development of Emirati talent. Thales places localisation at the heart of its growth strategy through training programmes and professional career development, building local expertise in radar technologies in support of the UAE's National Defence Strategy.
As the project is focused on building the radar system and qualifying domestic suppliers, it further strengthens the national industrial base and promotes long-term self-reliance. Commenting on the agreement, Al Romaithi highlighted the expansion of Thales' Radar Centre of Excellence as a reflection of the UAE's defence industrial strategy and its regional leadership in advanced technologies.
Mordi stated, 'Thales is proud to contribute to the growth of the UAE's industrial defence ecosystem by advancing local capabilities in line with the national vision. The expansion of our Radar Centre of Excellence, through the establishment of a new production facility, marks a major milestone - from integration, testing, manufacturing to lifecycle support. This investment reinforces the UAE's sovereignty in critical defence technologies and strengthens the national supply chain while developing local expertise in advanced radar systems.'