Europe’s eastern flank moves on air defence radars with wider efforts also underway
Romania has ordered Thales GM200 MM/A radars. (Photo: Thales)
Defending airspace on Europe’s eastern flank has become a priority in response to rising threat levels and drone incursions, as reflected by recent increased spending on air defence radar capabilities. A parallel effort is also occurring on Europe’s western-most point with Ireland expected to receive systems this year, although this is driven by the country’s current lack of capabilities in this domain rather than an immediate threat.
Recent deals include Romania’s order of 12 Thales GM200 Multi-Mission All-in-one (GM200 MM/A) radars on 22 July, which came just days before incursions by aircraft were reported in Romanian airspace; and Latvia’s announcement in mid-July that it would
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