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.
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