French Army selects Thales for IED jammer support
Thales has been selected by the French Army to assure through-life support of a sizeable proportion of its radio-controlled IED jammers deployed in external theatres of operation.
This contract confirms Thales’s positioning as a key and unifying player within European industry, in the field of providing services to the armed forces. In particular, Thales benefits from its expertise in the management of complex supply chains and its capacity to work alongside these forces, into theatres of operation.
Roadside bombs, known as Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) constitute a major threat in current conflicts: they kill or injure thousands of soldiers each year. Vehicles equipped with electronic defence systems can prevent these bombs from exploding when triggered remotely. Consequently, the smooth functioning of these defence systems represents an issue of vital importance.
This is the context in which SIMMT has selected Thales to maintain a significant proportion of the radio-controlled IED jammers deployed by the French Army in foreign operations. Several contracts, including one awarded to Thales, provide for 400 jammers produced by various manufacturers to be maintained, for a 5-year period.
This service comprises two main components. Firstly, Thales provides operational support for the forces present in theatres of operation, via the presence of its qualified staff in theatre. This training, which lasts for one year, is intended to develop the operators’ technical skills, and make them more self-reliant vis-à-vis their equipment, so that they can carry out advanced maintenance tasks themselves. Secondly, Thales provides an end-to-end procurement and logistics service for jammer sub-assemblies between France and any external operations zones in which the country’s armed services are involved. This service provides guaranteed availability of equipment in any situation.
“Combating the threat of IEDs is a key priority for the forces present in theatre. Several hundred attacks happen monthly, especially in Afghanistan”, explains Laurent Maury, Thales Vice-President, in charge of Customer Support and Services activities. “Via this support services contract, Thales is actively collaborating with the forces present in external theatres of operation, by making its logistics resources and technical skills available to them, to whatever extent is required.”
Source: Thales
More from Digital Battlespace
-
British Army’s ISR commander warns of new challenges facing defence forces
The race between using ISR and resisting the use of it by enemies has accelerated, leading to new methods and systems being required, according to the British Army’s lead on its ISR efforts.
-
Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract
The deal with Jacobs will run until November 2027 and will see the company deliver a range of digital and IT specialist professional services to Defence Digital.
-
Orbit upgrades two multi-purpose terminals and carries out land testing
The communications company has upgraded two of its Beyond Line-of-Sight Multi-Purpose Terminals (MBTs) by introducing advancements in satellite communication technology and AI-driven maintenance capabilities.
-
Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg
Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has announced that its subsidiary Kongsberg NanoAvionics will produce three satellites and launch them in 2025.
-
First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched
In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.