30 July 2010
Thales Australia today welcomed the Hon. Greg Combet AM MP, the Minister for Defence Materiel and Science, to its Rydalmere facility in NSW – home of the company’s highly successful underwater systems business.
The Minister visited the site to announce the winners of the latest round of funding under the Department of Defence’s Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) program.
The event was also attended by Julie Owens MP, Member for Parramatta.
Thales was named as a CTD funding recipient for its innovative Fibre Optic Towed Array (FOTA). The FOTA is ideally suited to meeting Australia’s evolving sonar requirements as an upgrade for the Collins submarine, as well as on future Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates and the Future Submarine itself.
Chris Jenkins, Thales Australia’s CEO, said the CTD program provided a solid platform for enhanced collaboration between the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and industry.
“Australian industry has achieved pioneering breakthroughs in many areas of defence technology, and has significant expertise available to support the Australian Defence Force,” he said. “The FOTA is just one example of these breakthroughs. It is much smaller, lighter and more versatile than previous towed arrays, and therefore opens up new possibilities for both vessel design and naval operations.
“Working with the DSTO is vital in this kind of research and development. Sharing our combined knowledge and experience base brings the best result for the development of new technologies – building local skills and capabilities, and ensuring solutions meet the specific Australian requirements of the future.”
The FOTA is based on new technology involving an electro-optic acoustic sensor producing laser signals through a thin fibre optic cable. The same technology has also been used in the development of rapidly deployable sea-bed surveillance arrays for harbour or ship protection.
Over the past 20 years, Thales has made a substantial investment in building an Australian sonar technology and expertise base. The company has supplied sonar systems for the FFG Upgrade, Collins submarine, Huon Class Minehunter and ANZAC frigates. This has created a significant capability advantage for the Royal Australian Navy, as well as important exports for the Australian economy, with over $400 million of exported sonar and related systems from Australia.
Thales also manufactures and exports minesweeping products to navies throughout the world, and has established a significant design, manufacturing and production capability for these products.
About Thales in NSW
Thales is the only prime defence contractor in Australia headquartered in NSW, with a history in the state dating back almost 100 years. The company employs close to 2,000 people across 17 locations, including main sites at Garden Island in Sydney, Rydalmere, Lithgow, Orchard Hills, Mulwala and Newcastle. In addition to underwater systems, the company’s activities in NSW include: integrated security and safety management solutions for transport; soldier systems and small arms; ordnance and munitions; naval systems; tactical communications systems; and aerospace avionics and electronics. Thales has invested significantly in developing its NSW business, including in R&D and innovation, as well as training and skilling its workforce. The company’s strategic alliances with DSTO and CSIRO, and membership of the Defence Materials Technology Centre and NSW Defence Advisory Committee, underscore its commitment to providing first class support for Australia's defence capabilities in NSW.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of €12.9 billion (equivalent of AUD 22.7 billion) with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com
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 3,500 people in over 35 sites across the country, Thales Australia recorded revenues of more than AUD1 billion in 2009.
Press contact
Libby Noble
Thales Australia
+61 (0)2 9562 3150
+61 (0)434 155 881
libby.noble@thalesgroup.com.au