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Thales Group and Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding signed a €1.5B contract to integrate battle management and communications systems on-board the German Navy’s MKS 180 class frigates.
The companies reportedly faced competition from Bremen-based Luerssen Shipyard and German ThyssenKrupp; and German Naval Yards paired with Britain’s BAE Systems.
The contract includes delivery of Thales Mission and Combat System consisting of the comprehensive Tacticos Combat Management System and the AWWS (Above Water Warfare System) Fire Control Cluster. The contract covers four ship systems, logistic services and multiple land-based test and training sites, as well as the option for one or two additional ships, according to reports.
AWWS is a warfare suite that helps the ship crews to counter and neutralise complex saturation attacks by continuously analysing and optimising the tactical environment and deployment of resources. It will be combined with Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) Bl2, the evolved version of Thales’ AESA multifunction radar. In 2019, Thales signed an AWWS development contract for the new M-frigates for the Belgian and Dutch Navies.
The first ship of the MKS 180 class will be operational in 2028. The entire programme will run for over ten years.
“As a partner in the MKS 180 programme, Thales Deutschland not only contributes to a high German value-added share, but also brings many years of experience in European cooperation and proven systems expertise. This programme will create new, high-quality jobs in Germany, within an exemplary framework of European defence cooperation. We will also contribute to maintaining the German Navy’s operational capability at the highest level within the alliance,” Dr. Christoph Hoppe, CEO of Thales Deutschland.
