News Review: Thales wins AWD SATCOM contract | ADM Jul 2010

Thales Australia has been named preferred tenderer to provide the satellite communications (SATCOM) equipment for the RAN’s Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD).

The contract is worth some $9 million and will support 20 jobs.

The system incorporates equipment from other SATCOM suppliers.

Peter Bull from Thales Australia said the company will integrate a solution that uses proven commercial and military off the shelf components.

“Thales is using Australian SMEs wherever possible to supply and support the equipment,” he told ADM.

“All design and integration work will be performed in Australia at Garden Island, Sydney.”

Thales Australia will then install the SATCOM equipment on the AWDs whilst they are under construction at Techport Australia in Adelaide.

Thales will supply the following components:

• UHF SATCOM: Viasat transceivers and modems sourced through Spirit River from Western Australia.

• The antenna system is from SITEP.
The same equipment is currently on board the ANZAC ships.

• INMARSAT Fleet Broadband and INMARSAT C: Sailor equipment sourced through Electrotech.

As some of this equipment is already deployed on RAN warships this will result in efficiencies in both training and maintenance support, says Thales.

The AWD Alliance’s SATCOM Product Group is responsible for supplying all SATCOM equipment with the exception of M-ASTIS, which was supplied through JP2008.

“The AWD will go to sea with a communications system that will not only meet the operational needs of a modern warship, but also allows the ship’s crew to keep in touch with family and friends via email and internet services,” defence materiel minister Greg Combet said.

“Satellite communications are key to the operation of the AWDs.

“This system will provide world-wide coverage of high-speed broadband for multiple users for both voice and data services.

“The system also includes equipment critical to meeting safety at sea obligations.”