Thales announces optronic payload support contract
Thales will support optronic payloads onboard a number of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft in the French military’s fleet under a €164 million contract announced on 27 February. The contract was awarded by SIMMAD, the French defence ministry's integrated through-life support structure for aeronautical equipment and systems.
The contract, known as the AMADEOS contract (association of through-life support and improvement of availability of optronic equipment in service in the forces), bundles several earlier through-life support agreements into a single contract to enhance coordination and availability management of optronic payloads in cooperation with the French forces. The new contract will also simplify obsolescence management and optimise the cost and availability.
The six-year agreement covers through-life support and availability management services for optronic equipment and systems on-board aircraft in service with the French Army, Air Force and Navy, including Rafale, Mirage 2000, ATL2, Puma, Caracal and Falcon 50. Thales will install and operate a data management system to enhance the exchange of information with the French armed forces, and provide on-site technical assistance at airbases.
AMADEOS covers all the optronic payloads supplied by Thales to the French forces, with the exception of Rafale’s front-sector optronics suite (OSF) that is supported under the MAESTRO (optimised through-life support for Thales Class B equipment and support systems for Rafale) contract; and RECO NG pod, for which through-life support formed part of the initial procurement contract.
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