Thales officially handed over the final commissioned Ground Alerter (GA) 10 radar, completing an order of 17 warning and alerting systems for the German Armed Forces. The ceremony took place at Thales’s Koblenz site.
The GA10 is a portable Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) alert system designed for camp protection and dismounted convoy operations. It has proven effective in asymmetric scenarios, having saved numerous lives in past missions.
The contract for these systems was awarded in February 2021 by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), initially covering five systems with options for additional units. The project, which included training, documentation, and an initial supply of spare parts, was completed on time and within budget.
Eric Huber, Vice President of Surface Radars at Thales, expressed satisfaction with the project’s completion, stating, “We are very pleased with this successful project completion on time and on budget, demonstrating Thales capabilities in camp protection and warning alerts. The GA10 contributes significantly to the protection of German soldiers during their important missions at home and abroad. Our Ground Alerter 10, manufactured in Ditzingen as a European military off-the-shelf product, draws on strong radar expertise and operational experience, and has already saved many lives in the past, and we are particularly proud of that.”
The GA10 features an integrated alert network that provides acoustic and visual warnings of missile and mortar threats, generating alerts as soon as an imminent impact is detected. It also offers reliable data on the firing position to facilitate countermeasures. Currently, various GA10 systems are in use to protect UN camps in Northeast and Eastern Mali, as well as by French forces in multiple out-of-area deployments.
Designed for ease of setup and transport, the GA10 can be operated by just two personnel for initialization and monitoring. As the lightest system in its class, it allows for quick redeployment using protected vehicles or helicopters. Its low power consumption of only 350 Watts enables battery-only operations, making it ideal for mobile missions.
