Neways and Thales have signed a 10-year partnership to industrialize and further develop RF microchips for advanced radar systems. The agreement formalizes a collaboration that started in 2015 with NXP and several SMEs to create lower-cost, energy-efficient RF technology for detecting hostile drones. The project has now delivered production-ready chips that consume less power and enable earlier detection at longer ranges, according to reporting by Het Financieele Dagblad (link in Dutch). The first deployment will be on new Dutch and Belgian mine countermeasure vessels scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2030.
The CEOs of both companies told FD the chip has been fully developed and produced in the Netherlands, aligning with Thales’ strategy to anchor critical radar components domestically and safeguard supply chains. Thales works with around 500 suppliers and positions radar and sensors as a core strength of the Dutch defense industry, alongside maritime systems and quantum technology. The partners aim to scale the chip into smaller radar platforms and expand counterdrone applications beyond naval use.
