The Dutch Command Materiel and IT (COMMIT) and Thales have signed a contract for the production and delivery of the Above Water Warfare System (AWWS) fire control cluster and sensor suite for the four new ASW Frigates that Damen Naval will build for the Belgian and Netherlands’ Navies. This contract follows on the development contract signed in 2018.
Valued at several hundreds of millions of euros, this contract illustrates Thales’s leading position worldwide in naval fire control and sensor technology. It will be executed by Thales’s naval Centre of Excellence in Hengelo (the Netherlands).
Thales will deliver the AWWS fire control cluster that continuously generates the best solution for each approaching threat in every environment. AWWS is a cutting-edge warfare suite that helps the ship’s crew to counter and neutralise high-velocity and complex saturation attacks by continuously analysing and optimising the tactical environment and deployment of resources. This integrated radar and fire control system combines the information from several sensors, including radars.
The new sensor suite uses Thales’ latest technology based on the APAR Block 2 X-band and the SM400 Block 2 S-band radars integrated in a one-radar system that is able to reconfigure its tasks dynamically.
In addition to AWWS, Thales supplies the Mirador Mk2 electro-optical fire control sensor, the Gatekeeper Mk2 electro-optic observation sensor, the Scout Mk3 low detectability naval surveillance radar as well as an extensive logistic support package.
The first ship will be operational in 2029. The ASW frigates will replace the Belgian and Netherlands’ multi-purpose frigates of the Karel Doorman class that are reaching the end of their lifecycle.
The ships will operate in a complex multi-mission environment, with anti-submarine warfare as their main task.
The frigates need to be able to independently defend themselves and other units with a state-of-the-art fire control system as above water threats are exponentially increasing in complexity, coordination and speed.
Thales systems, cyber-protected by design, will protect the Dutch and Belgium frigates from sophisticated threats such as hypervelocity missiles and swarm attacks.
Thales above-water combat systems and radars meet a wide range of needs, from maritime security operations to combat operations. These mission system solutions perform maritime security operations, surveillance, command and combat functions and support weapon systems from both US and European manufacturers.
In a high intensity Above Water Warfare context, the integration of all sensors provides an higher quality and faster tactical picture which provides more time to detect both hypersonic and supersonic missiles. The combined use of equipment gives a clear, rapid full situational awareness (air, surface) and increase defense capabilities of the whole task group.
Source: https://www.thalesgroup.com/
About Above Water Warfare System
Thales above-water combat systems and radars meet a wide range of needs, from maritime security operations to combat operations.
These mission system solutions perform maritime security operations, surveillance, command and combat functions and support weapon systems from both US and European manufacturers.
In a high intensity Above Water Warfare context, the integration of all sensors provides an higher quality and faster tactical picture which provides more time to detect both hypersonic and supersonic missiles.
The combined use of equipment gives a clear, rapid full situational awareness (air, surface) and increase defense capabilities of the whole task group.
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies within three domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Digital Identity & Security. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.
The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas such as quantum technologies, Edge computing, 6G and cybersecurity.
Thales has 77,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2022, the Group generated sales of €17.6 billion.
