Cross-country cooperation for navy clients

Thales in Germany and the Netherlands have successfully been cooperating closely for decades. This is demonstrated through numerous maritime development and integration projects as well as the cooperation in the technical and logistical support for all Thales systems used by the German Navy.

Millions of critical decisions are taken daily for maritime safety. More than 50 fleets worldwide rely on the leading intelligent solutions of Thales, such as radar, sonar, fire protection and ship-based communication systems.

Core competences of the division ‘Naval Systems’ in Wilhelmshaven, Germany’s largest naval base, are firstly in the field of weapon control and command systems of the German Navy, where with successful projects on ships of class F 123, F 124, K 130 and the task force suppliers (EGV) comprehensive know-how has been created in software development, test and integration and software maintenance and modification.

In Kiel, as second key pillar of Thales Deutschland in relation to naval competence modern customised communications and navigation systems for surface vessels have been designed and implemented for more than 50 years. For submarines modern high precision radar systems and torpedo control systems are being developed and supplied.

At home on all the seas

Intensive cooperation, such as the one between Germany and the Netherlands, strengthens one’s own military capability and provides advantages, for example in training and leadership capability. The close political and military cooperation of the armed forces of both countries is currently demonstrated in the agreed utilisation of the Dutch transport and mission ship (Joint Support Ship) Karel Doorman by the German Navy. Here, Thales contributed, for example, the mast with integrated sensors and aerials for airspace monitoring and the communication system. Parts of the navies of both countries are also integrated further, facilitating joint missions.

At Thales, too, just as with the military and political cooperation, most maritime projects are implemented jointly by both national companies in Germany and in the Netherlands in close cooperation and with highest quality. Some examples for Thales solutions on battle ships:

  • The TACTICOS technology – an IT system for guidance and combat management – is used across the frigates of class F124 and F123 and the corvettes of class 130 as well as the EGV first and second batch.
  • In spring 2016 Thales successfully completed the acceptance tests as part of a hardware/software upgrade of the F123 Combat Management System on TACTICOS.
  • The extension of the service life of the frigate 123 is now implemented in various steps. Thales will be involved both with the weapon control and command system (FüWES) and the communication and sensor solutions.
  • Key hardware components of the weapon control and command system and the operating system of the three frigates of class 124 are replaced with in hardware and coupled operating system software with technology based on open standards (regeneration).

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