On 10 March in Jakarta, Len Industri and Thales signed a contract for the complete modernisation of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) KRI Usman-Harun multi-role light frigate’s mission system, witnessed by King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands and Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto.

Thales, as part of Babcock Team 31, has been selected to deliver the digital heart of the UK’s next generation frigates. Thales will be the mission systems integrator for the Type 31 programme, delivering the combat system, communications systems and the navigation and bridge system.

As the general contractor, Damen as well as its partners Blohm+Voss and Thales are pleased with the intention announced today, to instruct the partners to supply the German Navy with at least four frigates of type “Multi-purpose battle ship MKS 180”.

Thales sonars and acoustic systems will provide the Spanish Navy's five F110 frigates with a latest-generation anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability. The key components of the integrated suite are the BlueMaster (UMS 4110) and CAPTAS 4 Compact sonars, the TUUM-6 underwater communication system, and the BlueScan digital acoustic system already in service with other European navies.

The first two ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) upgraded by Dassault Aviation were delivered to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) at the Lann-Bihoué naval air base.

The Australian Maritime College and international defence firm Thales Australia will team up at the University of Tasmania’s defence precinct to develop state- of-the-art sonar testing equipment for the Royal Australian Navy.