Thales has announced the signing of a significant contract with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) for the acquisition of a ForceShield system by the Portuguese Army. This marks a key milestone as it is the first ForceShield contract signed by Thales with a European country and the first such agreement with the Portuguese Army. The contract aims to enhance Portugal’s very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) capabilities.
ForceShield is Thales’s advanced air defence solution, designed to protect forces, critical infrastructure, and citizens from a wide range of airborne threats. This includes low-altitude threats such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), helicopters, fighter jets, and even cruise missiles. The system is specifically developed to address the growing complexity and variety of aerial threats.
The contract includes a comprehensive ForceShield Compact solution, featuring a Ground Master 200 air surveillance radar, a radio communications system, and the Air Defence command-and-control centre ControlView. In addition, portable weapon allocation terminals will be provided, alongside RapidRanger vehicles equipped with the StarStreak high-velocity air defence missile and Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) for anti-armour defence.
The Ground Master 200 radar provides rapid detection and track-lock capabilities, significantly enhancing situational awareness and improving the overall engagement process. This allows the ControlView system to assess and evaluate threats while allocating the appropriate firing units via the weapon terminals for optimal engagement.
One of the standout components of the system is the RapidRanger, a lightweight, vehicle-mounted, and highly automated platform capable of delivering rapid-response capabilities against both air and surface threats. The RapidRanger vehicles will be equipped with both the StarStreak and LMM missiles, further enhancing the Portuguese Army’s air defence readiness.
“Thales is proud to contribute effectively to the capability enhancement of the Portuguese Army. This first contract is a recognition of the trust on our air defence systems by NATO countries and all over the world to support nations safeguarding their airspace sovereignty”, said Raphael Desi, Vice-President of Integrated Airspace Protection Systems at Thales.
This landmark deal solidifies Thales’s role as a leading provider of cutting-edge air defence solutions and marks a significant step in enhancing the security capabilities of NATO member countries.
