A few days ago, Thales announced the signing of a contract with the NSPA (NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency) for the purchase of a ForceShield system by the Portuguese army. This is the first ForceShield contract that Thales has signed with a European country.
Portugal is aiming to improve very short-range air defense (VSHORAD) with the contract, which includes a complete ForceShield Compact solution with a Ground Master 200 air surveillance radar, a radio communication system, the ControlView air defense control center and portable weapon assignment terminals. ForceShield is Thales’ air defense solution which, according to the company, is designed to “protect armed forces, citizens and critical infrastructure from an increasingly diverse range of airborne threats”. This includes threats from low altitudes such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as well as helicopters, fighter jets and cruise missiles. This is to be achieved with suitable components for detecting, coordinating, combating and neutralizing threats. A RapidRanger vehicle with StarStreak high-speed anti-aircraft missiles and light multi-purpose missiles (LMM) for anti-tank defence is also part of the air defence system. https://militaeraktuell.at/call-austrians-libanon-kontingent-verabschiedet/ The Ground Master 200 radar automatically detects tracks, classifies aircraft, missiles, helicopters, multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and rockets, artillery and mortars (RAM). This gives the ControlView time to assess the threat while assigning the appropriate fire units to engage air targets through each weapons terminal. Thales Vice President for Integrated Air Defense Systems, Raphael Desi, said: “Thales is proud to make an effective contribution to improving the capabilities of the Portuguese Army. This first contract is a recognition of the confidence that NATO countries and the whole world have in our air defense systems to help nations secure their airspace sovereignty.”
