• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

IDELF 2008: Thales presents its latest innovations in tactical networks

11 August 2008

The highlights are the PR4G F@stnet, a battlefield voice/data radio system, and solutions using Wimax high-speed technology to bring the best of civilian technology to military applications.

Thales' presence at IDELF is also aimed at strengthening ties between the Group and the Russian market, especially in tactical telecommunications.

In a context of conflicts of variable intensity that increasingly require joint or allied operations, the importance of tactical communications is growing. Thales now boasts a wide range of products and services incorporating the very latest technologies available to meet these new needs. A major asset for growth in the Russian market.

"Thales and the Russian industry, in particular vertically-integrated manufacturers, have everything to gain by working together," explains Pierre Suslenschi, director of the tactical communications business of Thales. "We are convinced that there are real opportunities for solutions that take advantage of the Russian industry's know-how in vehicles and Thales' expertise in tactical telecommunications. This is why we are now determined to develop strong and effective partnerships with Russian industrial players, just as we did very successfully in optronics with Rosoboronexport."

The use of standard commercially available products (COTS ) and a pro-active technology transfer policy, combined with a very effective line of products and services, are the keys to Thales' worldwide success in tactical networks.

The heart of the system is the Di@ne/IP software suite, the ideal solution to operational military communications requirements thanks to its great mobility, high quality of service, and effective network management. This is because Di@ne allows the automatic integration of both PR4G/F@stnet combat radios and systems using the latest technologies, such as secure Wimax.

The PR4G F@stnet line: a new generation of radio

Based on the core features which made the PR4G a success, Thales' F@stnet line delivers a whole series of especially innovative services.

First of all, the PR4G F@stnet can transmit voice and data simultaneously. This makes it the ultimate solution to the data transmission needs of C4I applications, while also meeting the operators' voice communication requirements. In compliance with IP standards, the PR4G F@stnet naturally takes its place at the heart of battlefield digitization applications, facilitating exchanges of data between information systems, at all command levels, in particular for mobile applications deployed near the front line.

Another major asset of the PR4G F@stnet is its capacity to handle communications at all times, even in the most hostile environments. Combining frequency hopping technology and an automatic free channel search system, the PR4G F@stnet stands up especially well to the most advanced jamming systems.

Finally, the PR4G F@stnet fits perfectly into an existing PR4G network, thereby helping to amortize any investments already made; this is an essential point, given that there are more than 126,000 PR4G-type radio sets in operation in 43 countries.

TWS5000 Wimax: the best of civilian technology

The TWS5000 is a prime example of Thales' ability to integrate, whenever possible, the latest civilian technologies, to provide its customers with maximum performance at the lowest cost.

The TWS5000 Wimax, an innovative mobile solution, provides a multi-Mbps transfer rate over a long range for voice, data, and video transmissions. It thereby greatly increases the connectivity of C4I command posts deployed in the rear area of the battlefield.

The "IP Services" set up by Thales in the context of its Di@ne line of solutions ensure a very high quality of service, suited to the military environment, with such features as the automatic integration of PR4G F@stnet radios and user mobility. In addition, network management and configuration prove to be extremely simple and practical thanks to the Thales software suite.