The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is set to receive its first Thales GROUND MASTER 400 Alpha (GM400α) long-range air surveillance radar in the second half of 2026, with full operational capability expected in early 2027.

Florian Riou, Country Director for Thales in Malaysia told FW MAG that the delivery of the first radar contracted for in December 2023, is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia the second half of 2026. It is expected to be fully operational with the RMAF at the beginning of 2027. The RMAF has three GM400α radars on order and the remaining two systems are slated for delivery in 2027.

Thales is working with its local partner Weststar Group to deploy the radars in line with the operational requirements of the RMAF. As part of an offset agreement linked to the acquisition, Thales along with its local partner, is upgrading, the RMAF’s first GM 400 radar which was delivered in 2012.

All four radars are slated to be operational with the RMAF by the end of the 2027, with two of the radars deployed in Peninsular and Eastern Malaysia. Malaysia was the launch customer for the GM400 radar in 2009. In December 2023, the RMAF placed an order for a single GM400α, followed by a contract for two additional radars at the 2025 LIMA airshow.

The operationalisation of the GM400α radars, which have an instrumental detection range of over 500 km, will provide the RMAF with enhanced early warning capability against a wide range of airborne threats, from fast jets to low-flying UAVs. 

Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and X.