The Peruvian Air Force is acquiring an advanced ground-based air defense radar from French manufacturer Thales for approximately $39.9 million as part of a major military modernization effort tied to future operations of F-16 fighter jets.
The Peruvian military is expanding its defense capabilities with the acquisition of a Ground Master 400 Alpha radar. The purchase, awarded by the Agencia de Compras de las Fuerzas Armadas, marks the first step in a broader program registered under the code 2313734. The initiative is officially titled Recovery of Aerospace Control Capability for the Aircraft Alarm and Control System in the Coast and Highlands.
Capabilities of the Thales Ground Master 400 Alpha
The newly acquired three-dimensional surveillance radar operates in band S, within the frequency range of 2,900 MHz to 3,300 MHz, and features Active Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) technology. It offers a 360-degree coverage area, an approximate range of 515 kilometers, and the capacity to track up to 1,000 targets simultaneously. The system can elevate its antenna from 0 to +40 degrees and operate at altitudes reaching 30.5 kilometers.
According to specifications published across regional reports, the equipment is designed to detect aircraft, cruise missiles, long-range weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles, and targets with a reduced radar cross-section, including stealth technology. It incorporates artificial intelligence algorithms, an identification friend-or-foe system, and high resistance to electronic countermeasures. The unit requires about 30 minutes for deployment, maintains a 99 percent availability rate, and registers roughly 3,000 hours between critical failures. For transport, the system fits onto 6×6 or 8×8 trucks as well as C-130 or L-100-10 Hercules cargo aircraft.
Armed Forces Plan Six Tridimensional Radar Purchases
The initial contract with Thales LAS France SAS follows the completion of administrative steps related to the Convenio Marco Offset, which governs industrial and social compensation, technology transfer, maintenance, and training. Financing for the procurement is designated to arrive via a transfer from the Ministry of Economy’s contingency reserve.
This initial purchase is part of an expanded program encompassing six tridimensional radars with an estimated total cost between $260 million and $280 million. The armed forces intend to incorporate the remaining five units in 2027, subject to schedule adherence. These systems are intended to replace existing equipment that experts describe as obsolete technology lacking the reliability needed for modern air defense coordination.
Integration With F-16 Operations and Defense Architecture
The radar acquisition coincides with ongoing efforts to integrate F-16 fighter jets into the air force. General César Torres Vega, a retired air force officer and former vice minister of defense policy, noted that operating these advanced aircraft demands a coordinated network connecting ground radars, early warning platforms, communication links, and refueling tankers.
In the same conversation, Torres Vega maintained that the incorporation of the fighters should be accompanied by AWACS aircraft, an acronym for Airborne Warning and Control System, and tanker aircraft.
These aircraft have a very special design, which is what is applied today as doctrine in modern wars, which is operational work, totally in a network
General César Torres Vega, retired officer and former vice minister of defense policy
According to Torres Vega, the initial phase of the F-16 acquisition is cien por ciento viable.