Thales Wins FFG Combat System Support Deal

HMAS Darwin taken from the embarked S-70B-2 Seahawk Helicopter photo RAN

November 29, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Thales; issued November 27, 2013)

Thales Awarded FFG Combat System Support Extension

Thales Australia has been awarded a three-year extension to its support contract for the Royal Australian Navy’s Adelaide Class FFG frigate combat system.

The contract covers on-board systems and associated support facilities, and will be delivered from the company’s facilities in Sydney and Perth. The extension ensures FFG combat system capability is effectively sustained leading into the future transition to the country’s new Air Warfare Destroyers.

The versatile FFG combat system was developed by Thales as part of the FFG Upgrade project that concluded in 2009, and which was the most technologically advanced warship upgrade program ever performed in Australia.

At the core of the upgrade, the Australian Distributed Architecture Combat System (ADACS) integrated various shipboard sensors, effectors, tactical data links and support systems to provide the frigates’ command teams with a common battlespace management environment.

Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said: "As the FFGs are the RAN’s front line combatants, it is crucial to ensure the combat system performs at the highest levels.

"We have extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of these systems not only as a result of the FFG Upgrade project, but also because of our role supporting the recent enhancement of the FFGs with SM-2 surface-to-air missiles.

"We will continue to work closely with the Defence Materiel Organisation and the RAN to maintain this important capability."

Thales is a global technology leader in the Aerospace, Transportation and Defence & Security markets. In 2012, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion (equivalent of AUD 17.6 billion) with 65,000 employees in 56 countries. Thales Australia is a trusted partner of the Australian Defence Force and is also present in commercial sectors ranging from air traffic management to security systems and services. Employing around 3,200 people in over 35 sites across the country, Thales Australia recorded revenues of AUD 1 billion in 2012.