Thales to provide 6th combat management system for UK’s Type 31 frigates

Thales and the UK Ministry of Defence have signed a contract that will provide the Royal Navy with a sixth combat management system for Type 31 frigates.

The combat system is for testing software in advance of the systems going to sea. Having the facility will ensure effective and safe delivery for the Royal Navy with the ability to insert new capabilities at shore over the duration of the programme.

A ship-set includes Tacticos, which is the combat management system, Integrated Bridge and Navigation system (IBNS) and an Integrated Communication System (ICS). 

The contract is the next step in Thales’s ambitions to grow its above-water systems business in the UK. Since being selected to provide the combat systems in 2019 for the new T31 Frigates, Thales has established a new business line in Crawley.

“I’m delighted to see this continued collaboration with industry, ensuring the critical combat capabilities on our Type 31 fleet will be not only world leading in terms of capability, but safe for our personnel. Type 31 will be a critical asset to the Royal Navy and this significant investment will secure a number of highly-skilled jobs in Crawley, beyond the thousands of further jobs across the whole Type 31 programme,” James Cartlidge, Minister for Defence Procurement.

“This contract strengthens the relationship between the Royal Navy and Thales. The shore Integration facility will support the Royal Navy to effectively and efficiently operate their new surface fleet. It grows Thales’ above water activities in the UK and illustrates our ambitions for future naval programmes in the UK and abroad,” Gerben Edelijn, head of Thales’ above water activities.

The sixth ship set of Type 31 mission systems will have simulators added so it can be fully tested and evolve in service both as an individual platform and as an integral part of the Royal Navy fleet.

To remind, Thales recently revealed that the surveillance radar that will be fitted on Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates passed factory acceptance tests.