New Delhi: Thales and the Netherlands Ministry of Defence on June 22 announced a new strategic collaboration to expand the production, development, and test capacity for advanced radar systems in Hengelo.
To meet growing demand, Thales is significantly investing in expanding its facilities by building new test and production facilities in close cooperation with the Ministry of Defence. This partnership includes the development of a state-of-the-art near field test site with an anechoic chamber, the availability of training facilities, the expansion of the production of complex printed circuit boards, and the construction of a new test tower.
With this agreement, the Netherlands secures the availability of world-class radar systems for its national, international and G2G (government-to-government) customers. The agreement directly supports the Netherlands’ commitment to bolstering European defence capabilities in response to an increasingly complex global security environment.
As the original equipment manufacturer for a wide range of radar systems, Thales in the Netherlands has supported the operational readiness of the Dutch and international armed forces for more than 100 years. Due to the rapid technological developments and the deteriorating global security situation, the Dutch Ministry of Defence has identified an urgent need to increase the availability and scalability of critical radar capabilities for the protection of the Netherlands and Europe.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence acts in its role of shareholder and customer but also enables other countries to acquire radar systems from Thales under Dutch procurement contracts.
“The Netherlands Ministry of Defence and Thales have been working together on the development and international G2G sales of best-in-class radar systems. By expanding our cooperation to the ramp-up of test-and integration facilities, we are ensuring that the Dutch armed forces accelerate in our task to contribute decisively to the protection of Europe,” said Derk Boswijk, Minister of Arms Procurement, The Netherlands
“Through this unique partnership with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, we will further strengthen our position as a trusted partner in national and European security. By investing in additional facilities, we ensure the autonomy, resilience and technical edge of the armed forces for years to come,” stated Otto de Bont, CEO Thales in the Netherlands.
