Navy picks Thales to modernise its capabilities
FRENCH multinational Thales Group has won two significant contracts for the supply of a full spectrum of above- and underwater solutions for the Royal Thai Navy.
Thales will modernise Bang Rachan-class mine hunters and supply the combat, navigation and communication suite on board the newly ordered Krabi-class offshore patrol vessel.
Thales has been a partner to Thailand’s armed forces since the late 1990s and has provided the Navy with numerous solutions from sensors to integrated combat systems for various vessels of the fleet.
The company has been awarded the role of prime contractor for an extensive upgrade of two Bang Rachan-class mine hunters built in the late 1980s – HTMS Bang Rachan and HTMS Nong Sarai.
This marks Thales’s first success in the Thai market for underwater systems and sonar.
As prime contractor, Thales will be responsible for the revised vessel design, repairs and modernisation, procurement of equipment and platform integration.
The upgraded ship will be equipped with a machinery control system, navigation systems, upgraded communications capabilities, Sonar TSM 2022 Mk III with M-CUBE command and control and a multi-influence signature range to manage the Navy ships’ signatures.
Thales will work hand in hand with the local industry to manage the work.
The group says it will also provide training and integrated logistics support for the Navy to enjoy the best operational use of the vessels in the coming years.
Thales’ solution promises to extend the operational life of these ships by more than 15 years.
In 2009, Thales was chosen to supply the combat, navigation and communication suite for HTMS Krabi. The ship was commissioned in 2013 and has already completed more than 1,000 days at sea.
Last year, the Navy decided to launch a second vessel of the Krabi class. The vessel, to be built by Bangkok Dock, will be equipped with a Thales integrated solution that includes the Tacticos combat management system and an integrated bridge and navigation suite.
The sensors to be delivered are the Variant surveillance radar, Stir 1.2 EO Mk2 fire-control radar and Vigile electronic support measures with SKWS chaff launcher.
Thales will supply the tactical data links – Link RTN and Link-Y Mk2 – and all internal and external communication systems.
It will be responsible for all integration activities, including the 76-millimetre gun, 2x30mm gun and Harpoon SSM.
The ship is expected to be commissioned in the second half of this year.
By working together with its naval key industrial partner, Thales says it will be able to provide the best level of local training and service to the Navy and support Thailand’s goal of strengthening high-end local industrial capabilities.
Thales is a global technology leader for the aerospace, transport, defence and security markets. With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of 14 billion euros (Bt560 billion) last year.
Thales has been present in Thailand since the early 1990s, and today has numerous programmes and achievements to its name in both and civil and defence sectors.
