Thales has secured an agreement with the Netherlands’ Ministry of Defence to enhance radar production and testing infrastructure, with major investments planned at the company’s Hengelo site.
The modernization effort includes the construction of a near-field radar testing facility featuring an anechoic chamber, expanded production lines for complex printed circuit boards, and a new radar test tower. The program also calls for the creation of training facilities to support future workforce requirements.
Through these investments, Thales aims to increase antenna production capacity by 60 percent between now and 2028, reinforcing its ability to meet growing defense-sector demand.
The announcement follows several notable defense collaborations involving the company. Thales recently signed an agreement with Hanwha Aerospace to explore integrating Chunmoo missile systems with the X-Fire launcher, a flexible long-range fires platform.
Additionally, the company is working with AURA AERO on the Enbata ISR drone program, which will utilize Thales’ AirMaster C radar. In another initiative, Thales partnered with Renault Group to ramp up production of the Toutatis loitering munition, supporting France’s efforts to strengthen domestic drone manufacturing.
