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Thales to equip the two Projection and Command Ships of the French Navy with internal and external communications system

18 October 2002

DCN has awarded Thales a 30 million euro contract for the integrated communication system for the French Navy's two Projection and Command Ships (BPC).

The BPC programme is conducted by the Naval Programmes Department of the Defence Procurement Agency (Service des Programmes Navals de la DGA), and it is intended to renew and strengthen the French Navy's capabilities in terms of Command and Projection of forces. Programme management is performed by DCN.

This acquisition by the DCN will give the French Navy a modern and powerful communication system, built with the latest technologies and based on the FICS concept (Fully Integrated Communication System). This will support the new role of the BPC ships, which are to house the joint forces inter-allied command centres in international operations.

In terms of major innovation, the system capability is based on a new communication network implementing the latest ATM/IP standards and on extensive system integration. This permits a significant reduction in the number of staff on board, in particular thanks to a very efficient communication management solution, based on PARTNER, a successful product of the group.

This success strengthens Thales's position as leader in the field of turnkey naval communication systems. This system, using the solutions implemented in the communication systems of the French-Italian Horizon frigates and the British T45 frigates, opens promising perspectives for future bids to naval forces in Europe and world-wide.

Note to Editors: the Projection and Command Ships (BPC - Bâtiment de Projection et de Commandement ) were formerly named New Transport Landing Ships (NTCD - Nouveaux Transports de Chalands de Débarquements).

Press contacts :
Thales - Matt Pothecary - Tel : + 33 (0) 1 53 77 86 26
Thales Communications - Elsa Delacroix - Tel: + 33 (0)1 41 30 35 82