On behalf of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), the Joint Armaments Cooperation Organization (OCCAr) has awarded Thales a contract to upgrade the fire control system for the anti-air missiles deployed by the French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
The new equipment will be installed as part of the refit planned in 2018. Work will be completed when the Charles de Gaulle returns to active service.
Thales will upgrade the SAAM-France surface-to-air anti-missile system, which protects the Charles de Gaulle carrier from all types of air threats and was developed and installed in the 1990s. The upgrade will include a state-of-the-art open IT architecture and will facilitate subsequent maintenance work on the system and extend its service life.
The Thales solution is an opportunity to apply the latest software architecture concepts developed for the CONTROLView command and control system.
CONTROLView performs threat evaluation, weapon assignment and coordination of very short, short and medium-range engagements, enabling commanders to make complex, critical decisions more quickly and with greater precision and security.
This contract award is an endorsement of Thales’s research efforts in system and software engineering and its continuing investment in air defence. Based on the technology developed for the CONTROLView program, Thales can offer a mature, derisked missile fire control solution for naval operations.
This contract consolidates Thales’s leadership in naval fire control systems and secures future developments on the FSAF[2] program for the French Navy’s Horizon frigates as well as the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. These developments could also benefit the future program to upgrade the SAMP/T land-based medium-range air and missile defence system.
CONTROLView is an air defence fire coordination solution offering high levels of automation and intuitive human-system interfaces to improve the operational capability and lethality of air defence weapons.
CONTROLView controls various types of weapon systems, from VSHORADS to gun systems and ground-based air defence missile systems, maximizing lethal effect against multiple, simultaneous threats including fighter aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and UAVs according to the rules of engagement even in dense electromagnetic environments.
CONTROLView uses standard protocols for real-time and non real-time transmissions to ensure interoperability with higher levels of command and air defence networks.
Thales is a global technology leader in the Aerospace, Transportation, Defence and Security markets. In 2013, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion with 65,000 employees in 56 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 has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.
