• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

BAE SYSTEMS contributes specialist expertise to type 45 destroyer communications system

16 Mar 2001

Ref: 035/2001

The Communications & Defence Infrastructure Division of BAE Systems Avionics has been selected by Thales Communications Ltd to supply specialist expertise in fulfilling the Fully Integrated Communications System (FICS) requirement for the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 Destroyers, the first of which is planned to enter service during 2007.

Thales Communications Ltd, chosen by the T45 Prime Contract Office to act as prime contractor and system design authority for the FICS programme, has subcontracted to BAE Systems - within a 50/50 workshare agreement - responsibility for prime systems integration, risk management, security accreditation, communications management and messaging.

A key feature of the FICS project will be the pull-through of technology and products proven within existing programmes, reducing risk and non-recurring expenditure, within an open systems design capable of cost-effective future enhancement and growth.

Typical of this process is the inclusion within FICS of a Management Information System (MIS) based on BAE Systems’ highly successful Generic Communications and information services Management System (GCMS). This derives from the NATO-sponsored, nationally funded, multi-national Communications Systems Networks Interoperability (CSNI) Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP), which ran continuously between 1991 and 1999.

BAE Systems and Thales Communications Ltd have extensive experience of naval communications. This is typified in current joint projects such as the Integrated Communications Management System (ICMS), a sub-set of GCMS, for the Royal Navy’s new Landing Platform Dock Replacement; and via BAE Systems’ role in the PASCO naval message handling system, RNJTIDS Link 16 and the RN’s SR(S)7392 HF modernisation programme.
Notes to Editors:

The Communications & Defence Infrastructure (CDI) Division of BAE Systems Avionics supplies tactical and strategic communications systems for all three domains, together with innovative information infrastructure and IFF systems, to support battlespace digitization. The division develops defence applications based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) sub-systems and accepts development risk from customer organisations. CDI’s approach features the creation of Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) with procurement specialists and user representatives, and the development of industrial alliances with other major industry centres of specialist expertise in associated fields.