Thales providing Royal Navy's sixth T31 mission system
Image courtesy Thales
The combat system is for testing software in advance of the systems going to sea. Having the facility will ensure effective and safe delivery for the Royal Navy with the ability to insert new capabilities at shore over the duration of the programme. A ship-set includes Tacticos, which is the combat management system, Integrated Bridge and Navigation system (IBNS) and an Integrated Communication System (ICS).
The contract is the next step in Thales’s ambitions to grow its above water systems business in the UK. Since being selected to provide the combat systems in 2019 for the new T31 Frigates, Thales has established a new business line in Crawley. The business was officially stood-up in 2021 and now has over 60 employees in the UK. This contract award has led to the creation and sustainment of 30 roles.
James Cartlidge, Minister for Defence Procurement said: “I’m delighted to see this continued collaboration with industry, ensuring the critical combat capabilities on our Type 31 fleet will be not only world leading in terms of capability but safe for our personnel. Type 31 will be a critical asset to the Royal Navy and this significant investment will secure a number of highly-skilled jobs in Crawley, beyond the thousands of further jobs across the whole Type 31 programme.”
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Director General Ships Vice-Admiral Paul Marshall said: “I am incredibly proud of the Type 31 team at DE&S who have worked collaboratively and with great endeavour to secure this critical contract as the ships move ever closer to entering service with the Royal Navy.”
Gerben Edelijn, head of Thales’ above water activities said: “This contract strengthens the relationship between the Royal Navy and Thales. The shore Integration facility will support the Royal Navy to effectively and efficiently operate their new surface fleet. It grows Thales’ above water activities in the UK and illustrates our ambitions for future naval programmes in the UK and abroad.”
Alex Cresswell, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Thales in the UK said: “This contract award demonstrates the commitment of Thales to growing our above water systems business in the UK. It also creates and sustains skilled engineering roles, supporting our ambition to create careers and investment for UK prosperity.”
The sixth ship set of Type 31 mission systems will have simulators added so it can be fully tested and evolve in service both as an individual platform and as an integral part of the Royal Navy fleet. Is a critical part of the Type 31 capability insertion project that will enable the Type 31 platforms to be handed over from industry and operationally enter service with the Royal Navy.
Commodore Steve Roberts, Deputy Director Ships Acquisition with the Royal Navy, said: “The Royal Navy is excited about the capability and flexibility that the T31 Class will bring. The ships will conduct critical maritime security tasks and the Type 31 Mission System Shore Integration Facility will play a vital role to ensure the ships are ready, and remain ready, to undertake these operations.”
The project will provide a presence for Thales alongside the Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Services (NCSISS) and the MoD’s Maritime Combat Systems (MCS) teams in Portsmouth as part of the Surface Ships Combat systems enterprise. It is anticipated that the tasking framework will support and cover a mix of integration activities and trials and demonstration activities to bring the platforms to a tested operational level.
