Ukrainian minister praises French radar system
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has praised the performance of a French anti-aircraft radar system. The system will save Ukrainian lives, Reznikov said Wednesday about the gift from France. He was so excited about what he called the new “electronic eyes” that he gave the Radar Ground Master 200 a new nickname: “Grand Master”.
During the handover ceremony, the minister described the French-made radar as an effective upgrade to Ukraine’s network of around 300 radar systems. According to the manufacturer Thales, the GM200 detects and tracks missiles, artillery and mortar shells, aircraft and drones. “Your support saves Ukrainian lives,” Reznikov said in Limours, where Thales produces the system. “This radar will be the icing on the cake. That’s why it will be called “Grand Master.”
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the GM200’s range of 250 kilometers makes it possible to observe the sky over Kyiv and the surrounding region of the Ukrainian capital. However, it is not clear whether the Ukrainian armed forces will use it there. The system can be transported on a truck. According to Thales, it can be deployed in 15 minutes and moved to another location in 10 minutes. This makes it a difficult target for an opponent to hit.