Thales has introduced a new lightweight active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar designed for integration across unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and light combat aircraft. The compact system delivers advanced target tracking, synthetic aperture imaging, and electronic warfare support within a reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP) footprint. Building on the company’s extensive radar heritage, the new design offers scalable configurations suitable for both legacy platform upgrades and next-generation UAV applications. The radar leverages GaN (gallium nitride) technology to boost power efficiency and reliability, enabling extended range and high-resolution target discrimination. Thales aims to capture growing demand for multi-mission sensors capable of supporting surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions. The system’s modular architecture allows quick adaptation to varying mission profiles, supporting both air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements. Production and integration partnerships are expected across Europe and Asia, where Thales maintains strong UAV and fighter modernization programs. This development reflects Thales’s strategic focus on miniaturized, software-defined radar systems optimized for distributed and networked warfare environments.
