The contract covers the radar systems as well as additional equipment, spare parts and user training. Thales said the systems will be delivered in 2026.
The GO12 is a reconnaissance and artillery radar designed to support ground surveillance. Thales said it can detect drones as well as vehicles with 360-degree coverage.
The portable ground surveillance radar was developed in Germany and is manufactured in Ditzingen, Baden-Württemberg. According to Thales, it is already in use in 20 countries.
As a tactical infantry radar, the GO12 is designed for highly mobile forces. With a sensor volume of only 28 litres, it can be carried in a backpack by two soldiers alongside 15 to 20 kilograms of personal equipment.
The radar can operate in all weather conditions, including rain, snow and fog. Thales said this allows it to support surveillance when optical sensors, such as camera drones, can no longer provide usable results.
Thales said the systems will benefit from a production improvement plan aimed at increasing delivery capacity. The company is expanding its Ditzingen plant near Stuttgart and increasing its workforce to meet armed forces demand.
In 2026, Thales plans to hire 300 new employees in Germany to support this growth. The company said the production expansion is part of its response to increased demand for defence technologies.
“We are honoured by the trust from the German Armed Forces in our technologies, as illustrated by this order of our radars,” said Christoph Ruffner, Chief Executive of Thales Germany. “It underscores Thales’ positioning the defence industry, and our commitment to supporting our country’s security and defence initiatives with combat-proven technologies.”
Thales is a global technology group active in defence, aerospace and cyber and digital sectors. The company said its products and services support sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.
Thales allocates 4.5 billion euros per year to research and development in key areas. These include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies for critical environments.
The group has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, Thales generated sales of 22.1 billion euros.
Thales in Germany is headquartered in Ditzingen and is one of the group’s largest national subsidiaries. It employs around 2,300 people at nine locations and carries out its own manufacturing and development.
The company said it has had a technology tradition in Germany for more than a century. Its German business provides reconnaissance, radar, communications and information systems, as well as services for secure air and sea transport and IT solutions for cybersecurity.
