Thales systems tested on Mexican vessel
Thales equipment has been put through its paces during Sea Acceptance Trials of the Mexican Navy’s first Pola class vessel.
The trials were carried out in November and December 2019 off the Mexican west coast.
During the trials ARM Reformador faced various surface and air threats, with the vessel’s Thales SMART-S Mk2 radar demonstrating its capabilities in a series of scenarios including sea skimming and supersonic flight.
Following the successful trials, the project’s next milestone is the commissioning of the ship into active service with the Mexican Navy, which is expected in February 2020.
Thales equipment on board ARM Reformador includes the Tacticos combat management system, the SMART-S Mk2 Air and Surface Surveillance Radar, the STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 radar and EO tracking system, the Gatekeeper EO ship security system, and the CAPTAS-2 passive variable depth sonar.
Furthermore the C-Guard Decoy launcher and RIGEL Radar-Electronic Support Measures and Radar-Electronic Counter Measures systems have been supplied and integrated into Tacticos.
Thales also delivered and integrated a full armament suite including RAM surface to air missile launcher, Harpoon surface to surface missile launcher, 57mm gun, 12.7mm machine guns, and Mk38 25mm machine gun with dedicated console.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy’s MUSV programme could lay the USV procurement blueprint for NATO allies]()
US Navy’s MUSV programme could lay the USV procurement blueprint for NATO allies
The programme’s structure as a marketplace will allow multiple companies to compete for ongoing procurements; an approach which could be replicated across the Atlantic.
-
![UK Royal Navy shifts focus from warships to system-led warfare]()
UK Royal Navy shifts focus from warships to system-led warfare
With a revised Defence Investment Plan on the way ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit on 7-8 July, the UK government has begun to reveal more details of how its future naval fleet could look.
-
![Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress]()
Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress
Lawmakers question the US Navy’s proposed $2 billion investment in the Trump-class battleship as concerns over cost, technology maturity and operational relevance fuel growing bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
-
![Germany sinks F126 frigate programme in favour of cheaper MEKO A-200]()
Germany sinks F126 frigate programme in favour of cheaper MEKO A-200
On 24 June 2026, the German Ministry of Defence announced it was cancelling the F126 frigate programme in favour of procuring eight MEKO A-200 DEU frigates.
