Thales Group France/The Netherlands

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THALES AND STANDARDAERO UNLOCK A NEW LEVEL OF SAFETY WITH STABLELIGHT, THE NEW 4-AXIS AUTOPILOT SYSTEM​

• Thales and StandardAero are thrilled to announce that the StableLight™ autopilot was granted a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

• This true 4-axis autopilot system is now available for retrofit on Airbus Helicopters AS350 and H125 platforms.

• This system significantly reduces pilot workload, improves mission capability and can help reduce risk in critical flight phases.

Based on Thales’ Compact Autopilot System, derived from their previously certified transport category autopilot, StableLight is a robust, feature-packed autopilot in a compact, lightweight package that is perfectly suited for light rotorcraft. The system transforms the flight control experience of the helicopter with transparent stability augmentation that works precisely and without feedback to the control sticks. The addition of the stabilized climb flight attitude recovery, auto hover, and a wide range of other sophisticated features results in a system that drastically decreases pilot workload, enhances mission capability, and can help to reduce risks in critical flight phases and adverse conditions such as IIMC - (Inadvertent entry into Instrument Meteorological Conditions).

“Tailoring the most advanced technologies to offer safety and trust to our clients is at the very heart of Thales’ DNA. Combining Thales’ advanced capabilities with StandardAero's extensive knowledge allows us to draw upon a wealth of industry experience and deliver the autopilot solution that pilots have long aspired to.” Tristan Grivel, Vice President Business Development and Sales for Thales’s flight avionics business

“We are excited to bring this state-of-the-art autopilot to market in partnership with Thales. The features offered by StableLight will be a major game changer for pilots and operators alike – it provides unparalleled performance, taking the already capable AS350 and H125 aircraft to the next level. Today’s announcement of the certification of StableLight paves the way for a safety revolution for light helicopters.” Marc Drobny, President of StandardAero’s Military, Helicopter and Energy Sector

Pilots representing numerous operators and industry experts were able to test fly the pre-certified system over the last year and were extremely encouraged by the system’s performance and contribution to safety. Many commented on the system’s impressive capabilities and noted its potential to assist in a wide variety of missions.


Based on the high level of customer interest to date, Thales and StandardAero are spooling up to meet the demand for kit deliveries, with the first kits reserved for the VIP launch customer MacNeil Aviation LLC.


Both EASA and Transport Canada validations of the STC are being applied for subsequently.

Thales and StandardAero unlock a new level of safety with StableLight, the new 4-axis autopilot system

Based on Thales’ Compact Autopilot System, derived from their previously certified transport category autopilot, StableLight is a robust, feature-packed autopilot in a compact, lightweight package that is perfectly suited for light rotorcraft. The system transforms the flight control experience...

www.thalesgroup.com

 

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THALES ALENIA SPACE TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION TRANSPONDER FOR TURKEY’S FIRST LUNAR MISSION​

Madrid, November 21, 2023 – Thales Alenia Space (joint venture between Thales, 67%, and Leonardo, 33%) has signed a contract with TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBİTAK UZAY) to provide a Communication Transponder for AYAP-1, Turkey’s first lunar mission.


The Lunar Research Program (AYAP) is an integral part of the National Space Program led by the Turkish Space Agency, with TÜBİTAK UZAY in charge of the design, development, integration, test, launch and operations of the AYAP-1 spacecraft. With this project, Turkey aims to successfully carry out its first lunar mission and become one of the few countries that can conduct activities on the Moon with its own capabilities.


Thales Alenia Space will provide an S-Band TT&C (Tracking, Telemetry and Command) Transponder for the AYAP-1 spacecraft, a key unit to establish a communication link between the spacecraft and the ground station. The TT&C transponder is in charge of receiving the commands sent by the ground station to control the spacecraft, and sending back the telemetry with the vital information on the status of the spacecraft. The TT&C link is also instrumental to monitor the position of the spacecraft by measuring the distance to the ground station.

Stéphane Terranova, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in Spain said: “At Thales Alenia Space we are honoured by the confidence of TÜBİTAK UZAY to provide the Communication Transponder for AYAP-1 spacecraft, a key element for the success of Turkey’s first mission to the Moon. We’re excited to contribute in the renewed ambition of humanity to explore the Earth’s natural satellite.”

Lunar communications expertise

Thales Alenia Space site in Madrid (Spain) is a centre of excellence in space communications. With 35 years of experience in the design and production of satellite communication systems, payloads and equipment for all type of space missions - from Earth orbit to deep space, - it has participated in more than 650 satellites from space agencies and satellite operators worldwide and delivered 4,500 units. Building on their comprehensive heritage and expertise, Thales Alenia Space teams in Madrid are currently involved in 9 missions to the Moon providing lunar communications systems and equipment in S and X frequency bands for 4 lunar orbiters, 3 lunar landers, 1 lunar rover and the space station Lunar Gateway.


Among these missions are KARI’s Danuri orbiter (KPLO, Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter), in orbit since 2022, the first step in South Korea's lunar exploration program; NASA’s VIPER rover (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), which will explore the South Pole of the Moon in search of water ice - a vital resource for establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon; the ESPRIT module of the Lunar Gateway (European System Providing Refuelling Infrastructure and Telecommunication), a contribution of the European Space Agency (ESA) to the Artemis program led by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor; and the lunar landers NOVA-C and Griffin in the frame of NASA’s CLPS program (Commercial Lunar Payload Services), to bring experiments to the surface of the Moon.

Thales Alenia Space to provide Communication Transponder for Turkey’s first lunar mission

Madrid, November 21, 2023 – Thales Alenia Space (joint venture between Thales, 67%, and Leonardo, 33%) has signed a contract with TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBİTAK UZAY) to provide a Communication Transponder for AYAP-1, Turkey’s first l...

www.thalesgroup.com

 

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THALES AND AUSTRALIAN PARTNER SMES WIN CRITICAL NAVY SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACT AT GARDEN ISLAND, SYDNEY​

Thales welcomes today’s announcement by The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry, confirming Thales as the Australian Defence Force’s partner of choice for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Maritime Sustainment contract as Regional Maintenance Provider East (RMP-E) at Garden Island Defence Precinct (GIDP) in Sydney, New South Wales.


The new contract awarded to Thales is expected to generate over 800 local jobs and generate over $700m of opportunities with Australian SMEs to 2028, including the addition of over 40 new apprentices, trainees and cadets based at the Garden Island Defence Precinct (GIDP).

The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry said, “Growing our sovereign naval shipbuilding industrial capability is not just good for jobs, it’s imperative for our national security.I’m focussed on making it easier for local industry to partner with Defence, and this partnership with Thales Australia will help to do that.”

Thales, supported by a robust and resilient ecosystem of over 500 Australian SMEs, and its 460-strong highly skilled workforce at Garden Island in Sydney, will work in close collaboration with all RMPs across the country, to manage sustainment, integration and lifecycle management services to advance fleet sustainment delivery in Australia,ensuring the RAN and its partner navies are always ready and available to fight and win at sea.

Jeff Connolly, Chief Executive Officer, Thales Australia & New Zealand said, “We are grateful to be selected as the Australian Defence Force’s regional maintenance partner of choice, providing indispensable services and support to the Royal Australian Navy in the protection of our nation at Garden Island in Sydney.”

Mr. Connolly said, “The Captain Cook Graving Dock and Garden Island Precinct on Sydney Harbour have always been critical sovereign national security assets – as is the highly skilled Thales Australia workforce that safely operate the dock every day to ensure the RAN is always ready and available to protect the nation and support our Pacific Island neighbors as needed.

Thales Australia is committed to ensuring the continued training and upskilling of our people to advance dockyard operations as the new vessels come online, as well as engaging and training the new apprentices, trainees and cadets of the future to guarantee knowledge transfer to future-proof this essential sovereign sustainment capability for the ADF.”

Earlier this year, Thales signed an agreement with U.S Navy Industrial Enterprise partner, ORBIS Sibro Inc (ORBIS Inc), to collaborate on the advancement of maritime sustainment operations in support of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at the Garden Island Defence Precinct in Sydney. The new partnership will help accelerate the advancement of Australia’s maritime sustainment capability in support of the Australian Government’s National Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Enterprise.

Thales and Australian partner SMEs win critical Navy support and maintenance contract at Garden Island, Sydney

Thales welcomes today’s announcement by The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry, confirming Thales as the Australian Defence Force’s partner of choice for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Maritime Sustainment contract as Regional Maintenance Provider East (RMP-E) at Garden Island...

www.thalesgroup.com

 

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CENTAURIUM UAS AND THALES JOIN FORCES TO OPEN SWISS SKIES TO LONG-RANGE DRONE OPERATIONS​

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• Centaurium UAS and Thales have signed a cooperation agreement to conduct a test campaign with a view to authorising the use of Thales’s UAS100 drone for long-range operations in Switzerland.

• The UAS100 is ideal for civil and governmental monitoring, surveillance and alert missions.

• Combining world-class flight safety performance with the compact design required for drones, the Thales system has an operating range of more than 100 km and complies with certification criteria for flying over populated areas.

• A subsidiary of Switzerland-based Centaurium Group, a specialist in helicopter operations, Centaurium UAS will be responsible for drone qualification flights, and plans to provide drone services with optimised operating costs and environmental impact to Swiss authorities and industry players.

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On 22 November 2023, Centaurium UAS and Thales signed a cooperation agreement which also comprises the delivery of two Thales UAS100 drone systems and ground control stations to the Switzerland-based company ahead of testing in the spring of 2024 and the planned start of commercial operations in 2025.


From risk monitoring on large-scale infrastructure to border surveillance, event security, fire detection and location of missing persons, the UAS100 meets the requirements of a wide range of mission scenarios while operating in full compliance with general aviation regulations.


Centaurium UAS will operate the drones and offer services tailored to the specific needs of public and private players in Switzerland, with lower operating costs and 90% lower energy consumption than current piloted aircraft.


Centaurium UAS is positioned as a service provider for monitoring, surveillance and alert missions. Use cases include inspection of critical infrastructure and industrial installations such as high-voltage lines and transport routes, monitoring of natural disasters, border surveillance and security for major events, as well as flights to locate missing persons and provide situational awareness in support of search and rescue and other emergency operations. Centaurium UAS will rely on Thales’s UAS100 technology for the necessary flight avionics, benefitting from its highly robust design, built-in security, versatility and scalability, and a latest-generation ground control station that meets the criteria for European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification.


The avionics of the UAS100 combines the certified levels of flight safety and security of Thales solutions for the aerospace sector with the lightweight and compact design needed for integration on a light UAV. With an aerostructure developed by light aircraft manufacturer Issoire Aviation, the UAS100 concept offers levels of performance, integrity and reliability with no equivalent in Europe.


The UAS100 is powered by two electric motors and a small internal combustion engine, ensuring the necessary endurance and resilience to failure. Equipped with a jam-resistant navigation system, a redundant computer for critical missions and a smart communication system, it can fly autonomously in complete safety. The UAS100 will be marketed in two versions: the UAS100-1, which is already available and has a wingspan of 3.34 metres, a length of 1.78 metres and a payload capacity of 1 kilogram; and the UAS100-10, which is twice the size and offers a payload capacity of 10 kg to accommodate very high-performance sensors.


The ground control station — the nerve centre for planning, control and supervision of drone operations — will be supplied to Centaurium UAS in November, with delivery of the first UAS100-1 in March 2024 for initial trials. Centaurium UAS plans to begin commercial operations in 2025, once authorisation is obtained from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA).

“With Thales, we’re delighted to have found the ideal partner so we can operate on-demand long-range commercial drone services for our customers in the near future. The partnership agreement between Thales and Centaurium UAS marks the start of a new era for drone operations in Switzerland.” – Ernest Oggier, CEO, Centaurium UAS.

“Centaurium UAS isn't only a first customer but the ideal partner to optimise drone operations with a view to achieving system certification and offering commercial services with lower costs and environmental impact.” – Jean-Paul Ebanga, Vice President Flight Avionics, Thales.

Centaurium UAS and Thales join forces to open Swiss skies to long-range drone operations

On 22 November 2023, Centaurium UAS and Thales signed a cooperation agreement which also comprises the delivery of two Thales UAS100 drone systems and ground control stations to the Switzerland-based company ahead of testing in the spring of 2024 and the planned start of commercial operations in...

www.thalesgroup.com

 

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THALES SELECTED BY THE DGA TO EQUIP THE FRENCH NAVY'S NEW OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS WITH THE LATEST MARITIME SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES​

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• Thales will equip the French Navy's seven first new offshore patrol vessels with its Bluewatcher hull sonar, its new compact multi-mission surveillance radar, the NS50, and its IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) TSA 3522. Thales will be involved in the integration of this equipment.

• These solutions will enable offshore patrol vessels to carry out their operational missions by providing active and passive surveillance against underwater threats, aerial surface surveillance, fire control and identification.

• This contract with the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) meets the requirements of the new Military Planning Law (LPM) for the period 2024-2030. Three new offshore patrol vessels may be added to the fleet after 2030.

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Thales will supply the French Navy with a sensor suite comprising Bluewatcher sonar, NS50 radar and an IFF identification system for its new offshore patrol vessels. The first vessel will enter service in 2024.


The French Navy's new offshore patrol vessels will replace the Estienne d’Orves class of type A69 Avisos and OPV54-class patrol boats. They will operate in French metropolitan waters, primarily across the continental shelf (i.e. to depths of 200 m) and continental slope and rise (to depths of 1,000 m). Designed for long endurance, the new multi-role OPVs will perform escort roles for front-line warships. In particular, they will be dispatched ahead of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) as they leave port to provide intelligence and deterrence and act as scout vessels. They could also be deployed to control maritime areas above and below the surface and defend territories at sea, as well as taking part in missions to evacuate nationals.


These highly innovative and capable Thales systems have already been proven at sea and will enable the new OPVs to accomplish their missions with optimum effectiveness.


The Bluewatcher sonar is a proven system offering high underwater detection performance. With its low-draught design, it is particularly suitable for small vessels operating in shallow waters. The NS50 is the first compact 4D multi-mission AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar for low/medium-tonnage vessels. It provides air and surface surveillance capabilities as well as performing fire control functions for naval guns and missiles. The NS50 provides the highly precise data needed for rapid target acquisition, engagement of short-range fire-and-forget surface-to-air missiles, and fire control functions for engagement of surface threats by naval guns.


Complementing the NS50 radar, Thales's advanced TSA 3522 IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) interrogator is Mode 5 certified by the US Department of Defense (DoD) AIMS Program Office for deployment on allied operations with NATO forces. This high-reliability system provides a complete cryptographic solution that identifies objects detected by the radar in complete security, and also identifies civil aircraft.

Thales selected by the DGA to equip the French Navy's new offshore patrol vessels with the latest maritime surveillance technologies

Thales will supply the French Navy with a sensor suite comprising Bluewatcher sonar, NS50 radar and an IFF identification system for its new offshore patrol vessels. The first vessel will enter service in 2024.

www.thalesgroup.com

 

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THALES - ELETTRONICA JOINT COMPANY SIGEN ABOARD THE HORIZON FRIGATES FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEM​

Following the signing of the contract between OCCAR and Naviris (a Fincantieri and Naval Group joint venture) for the Mid-Life Upgrade of the four Horizon-class units in service with the Italian and French navies, a sub-contract was signed in August 2023 between SIGEN (a consortium between Elettronica and Thales) and Naviris for the modernization of the Electronic Warfare (EW) system.


This contract represents a continuation of what has already been successfully initiated in the Horizon and FREMM programs and consolidates the collaborative relationship between the two companies for the supply of cutting-edge EW systems capable of successfully confronting current and future operational needs, with very balanced contributions from both companies.


In detail, the EW system integrates into the new Naval Units the excellence developed by both companies in their respective national naval programs. The full digital Radar Electronic Support Measures (RESM) component developed and qualified for the FDI (Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention) program for the French Navy will be integrated with ELT Group's Radar Electronic Counter Measures component developed and qualified for the PPA (Patrol Multipurpose Offshore Units) for the Italian Navy. The Communication Electronic Support Measures and Electronic Warfare Management Unit subsystems, on the other hand, will be national variants, provided by each company for its own Navy.

Domitilla Benigni, CEO and COO of Elettronica said "The contract for the EWS Mid-Life Upgrading (MLU) of the Horizon Units has a twofold and significant value for our company: on the one hand, we consolidate our presence of excellence in EW on board naval units for the Italian and French Navies and, at the same time, we consolidate the long and fruitful collaboration with Thales. Both aspects consolidate ELT Group's convinced contribution toward European Defence."

Philippe Duhamel, Executive Vice-President, Defence Mission Systems, Thales: “We are very proud to reinforce our collaboration and partnership with ELT Group by the provision of our unique Electronic Warfare (EW) system for the Italian and French Navies, taking into account the new and modern stakes and threats of the electromagnetic spectrum.”

Thales - Elettronica joint company SIGEN aboard the Horizon frigates for the modernization of the Electronic Warfare system

Rome, 27 November 2023

www.thalesgroup.com