Thales close to finalising contract with Bulgaria on GM400a procurement

The Ground Master 400α is an aerial surveillance radar designed to provide wide-area detection and target tracking. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)

While exhibiting several radar and air defence products at the HEMUS exhibition from 3 to 6 June, Thales told Janes that it is edging closer to completing a contract with Bulgaria for the sale of Ground Master 400 Alpha (GM400α) radars to replace ageing Soviet-era radar systems.

Confidence in the contract award was boosted following a visit by recently elected Prime Minister Rumen Radev to Paris on 27 May 2026, during which Radev told a press conference that “we are about to go ahead with agreements on the supply of 3D radars, next-generation howitzers and armament for our multi-purpose modular patrol ships” from French defence manufacturers. Faith Hoy, a sales manager at Thales said that the contract is in the final stages of negotiations.

The GM400α is a minor upgrade to the original GM400, with improved processing power and an extended range of up to 515 km, according to Thales. GM400α systems were delivered to Serbia in 2025.

The GM400α will replace Soviet-era systems such as the P-18 two-dimensional aerial surveillance radar, which remains in service. Janes notes that at least one P-18 is currently deployed to Krumovo airbase southwest of Plovdiv as of June 2026. Aside from the P-18 being unable to transmit aerial surveillance data seamlessly to combined air operations centres in Uedem, Germany, and Torrejón, Spain, without additional processing, it also remains a two-dimensional radar.