Thales announces Thai naval contracts
Thales will carry out work to modernise the Bang Rachan Class minehunters of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and deliver equipment for the force’s Krabi Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) under two contracts announced by the company on 20 April.
The first contract will see the company act as prime contractor for an extensive upgrade of two Bang Rachan Class minehunters, HTMS Bang Rachan and HTMS Nong Sarai, to extend the vessels’ operational life by 15 years.
Thales will be responsible for the revised vessel design, repairs and modernisation, the procurement of equipment and the platform integration. The upgraded ship will be equipped with new solutions, including a machinery control system, navigation systems, upgraded communications capabilities, Sonar TSM 2022 MkIII with M-CUBE command and control (C2) and a multi-influence signature range to manage RTN ships’ signatures.
Training and integrated logistics support will also be provided.
Under the second contract Thales will supply a combat, navigation and communication suite for the second Krabi Class OPV that will be built by Bangkok Dock.
The integrated solution includes the TACTICOS combat management system and an integrated bridge and navigation suite. Sensors to be delivered are the Variant surveillance radar, STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 fire control radar and Vigile electronic support measures with SKWS chaff launcher.
Thales will also supply the tactical data links Link RTN and LINK-Y Mk2 and all internal and external communication systems. The company will be responsible for all integration activities, including the 76mm gun, 2x 30mm gun and Harpoon SSM.
The ship is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2018.
More from Naval Warfare
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
-
Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group have signed a contract for three defence and intervention (FDI) frigates. Two warships will be due for delivery in 2025 and the third expected the following year, with the deal including an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.