{"id":44413,"date":"2020-10-16T15:50:28","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T15:50:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/10\/16\/thales-launches-small-aesa-radar-for-small-aircraft\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:37:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:37:18","slug":"thales-launches-small-aesa-radar-for-small-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/2020\/10\/16\/thales-launches-small-aesa-radar-for-small-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"Thales launches small AESA radar for small aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PARIS \u2013 Thales launched on Oct. 16 its new AirMaster C, a compact, active electronically scanned array (AESA), airborne surveillance radar for small and medium-sized platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the radar\u2019s design phase has been finalized it still needs testing airborne. Nevertheless, St\u00e9phane Lavigne, a sales director at Thales, said that the French Armed Forces Ministry had already notified its intention to buy the equipment for the future light joint army helicopter, the Gu\u00e9pard, developed by Airbus Helicopters and due to enter service in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jon Bye, Thales’ head of customer marketing, said that the AirMaster C would ensure customers got \u201cthat great picture, first time, every time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The active antenna radar is based on SiGe (silicon-germanium) technology fully validated in 2019. Thales says SiGe is \u201cmuch more energy efficient than other technologies used for AESA radars, and allows the radar to self-cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t