Australia looks to Thales for next-generation naval comms
Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Hobart sails in the Eastern Australian Exercise Area. (Photo: Australian Department of Defence)
Thales has supported the Australian Navy with the MTWAN network for the past 12 years.
The Australian DoD has awarded Thales Australia a contract extension for the SEA 1442 Phase 3 programme Internet Protocol (IP) based Maritime Tactical Wide Area Network (MTWAN), which supports the Australian Navy’s communications modernisation and network-centric warfare ambitions.
Thales’s MTWAN sits at the core of the Australian Navy’s maritime communication systems integration and implementation using an IP-based environment to interface its systems.
The company said it had ‘developed and deployed’ several baseline upgrades to MTWAN to support increased bandwidth demands and enhanced cyber security for tactical networks.
Work included the integration of further commercial and military satellite communication systems.
The Thales Australia announcement did not include the value of the extension.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme]()
BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
-
![Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality]()
Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
-
![Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems]()
Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
-
![Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support]()
Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.
-
![Thales digital twin system set for trials in UK next year]()
Thales digital twin system set for trials in UK next year
The digital twin system has been designed to evaluate the introduction of new systems onto platforms but could also be used to support procurement, training and battle planning in the future.
