OTTAWA: Thales announced today an agreement with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of 13 Smart-S Mk2 surveillance radars. These radars will be installed on the Canadian Patrol Frigates of the Department of National Defence as part of the Halifax Class Modernization Program. Delivery will begin in Summer 2010 and be complete in 2015. All radars are scheduled to be at sea and fully operational in 2017 when the Halifax Modernization Program will be completed.
“Thales has been a major provider of radar systems to the Navy since 1967. The IROQUOIS Class has exclusively used Thales radar systems and, through recent overhaul activity, will continue to operate these radars into the next decade,” said Guy Baruchel, President of Thales Canada. “The selection of the Smart-S Mk2 as the primary radar for the HALIFAX Class continues this strong relationship with the Navy.”
“Smart-S Mk2 is a state-of-the-art, world-class radar, able to meet the Navy’s requirements for environments in which it will operate. The radar system enhances operational performance while significantly reducing the operations and maintenance budgets of the Navy,” added Thales Nederland CEO Adri Blokhuis.
“Lockheed Martin Canada recently announced its selection for the combat systems and sensors to be integrated into Canada’s Frigates, ensuring that the fleet is positioned for future missions and operations,” said Captain Richard Gravel, Deputy Project Manager Halifax Class Modernization. “The Canadian Navy is confident that the radar suite selected by Lockheed Martin, as our Combat Systems integrator, and centered on the Thales Smart-S Mk2 3D long-range volume search radar, will meet our requirements, and ensure our ships are optimized for littoral operations.”
The Combat Systems Integration contract is a Government of Canada defence procurement which is subject to Canada’s Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) Policy. The IRB policy requires Lockheed Martin Canada, as the prime contractor, to undertake high-quality business activities in Canada equal to 100% of the contract value. As a major sub-contractor on the project, Thales will assist Lockheed Martin Canada in meeting these IRB obligations.
About Smart-S Mk2
The Canadian Navy is the seventh customer for the radars and this contract increases the number of Smart-S Mk2 systems sold to 30. This surveillance radar operates in S-band and is optimised for medium-to-long range surveillance, target designation and accurate air and surface target tracking in littoral environments.
Smart-S Mk2 matches the full performance envelope of modern surface-to-air missiles such as the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile and is suitable as an air and surface surveillance radar for frigates, corvettes, landing platform docks and amphibious ships. The radar offers two main modes, an instrumented range of 250 km, 70-degree elevation coverage, a special helicopter mode, surface fire channels, high reliability and ease of installation and maintenance. Smart-S Mk2 is the optimal sensor for a powerful weapon and sensor suite.
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008, the company generated revenues of 12.7 billion euros (equivalent of $19.8 billion CAD) with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements.
Thales Canada has 1350 employees in Halifax, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver working in Defence, Aerospace and Security. Sales across Thales operations in Canada exceed $420 million (CAD) for 2008, to a range of customers including Canadian and overseas urban rail systems, civil aviation, and military and security agencies.
Lockheed Martin Canada has been the combat systems integrator for the Halifax Class for the past two decades. The company hosts the Canadian Navy’s integration lab at its facility in Montreal and employs dedicated teams in Esquimalt, BC, and Halifax, NS, to maintain and upgrade the combat systems, maintenance procedure trainers, and team trainers located there. The company is the original equipment manufacturer of the combat systems for the Halifax Class and is the in-service support provider for both the Halifax and Iroquois Class vessels.
