Thales opens new testing center for German Navy’s F126 frigates

The German Navy, the BAAINBw, Thales, and other F126 project partners, such as Damen Naval, the prime contractor for the F126 project, have inaugurated the “extended Thales testing center”, a system testing and integration facility dedicated to the project.

Last year, Thales doubled its local production capabilities in the Netherlands by expanding its own testing and integration facilities.

As part of the project, the extended Thales testing center will function as a collaboration hub for various project partners, to whom the facility offers a physical environment to collaborate, innovate and co-create solutions.

Additionally, the system testing and integration will take place in this facility. The building is equipped with multiple testing positions for the ships’ sensors and other hardware.

Furthermore, the integration of the mission system into the combat management system TACTICOS will be validated here, according to Thales.

“By inaugurating the extended Thales Testing Centre today, we reach a great milestone in the F126 project. Together, we have created a collaborative environment that will enable our colleagues, partners and customer to work together on the innovative solutions for the F126 frigates,” said Dirk Jan de Bruijn, VP Above Water Systems Thales.

The opening of this testing center is an important milestone toward the delivery of the first F126 frigate scheduled for 2028.