Thales is displaying a broad range of its capabilities at the ongoing show, including underwater and sonars systems, counter batteries radars, state-of-the-art fire control Systems, secured communications and cybersecurity solutions.
In an interview, Massimo Marinzi, Country Director and Managing Director for Thales Thailand and Myanmar, spoke about the company’s growing presence in the region.
What is Thales showcasing at D&S Bangkok 2022?
Thales will be exhibiting a range of defence and security solutions that can protect states, cities, and critical infrastructure. Some of the exhibited solutions include: Naval surveillance – The TACTICOS combat management system and the latest NS50 4D naval radar, Integrated air defence solutions, including the GM200 and GM400 radars and effectors (LMM, StarStreak and Free Fall LMM), Mounted Combat displaying the range of Thales solutions for vehicles, and Dismounted Combat, featuring the company’s spectrum of night-vision goggles Nellie, Mini Dir, XTraim, Sophie XF.
At our stand, the Thales Digital Experience offers a glimpse of Thales broad capabilities, including underwater and sonars systems, Counter batteries radars, state-of-the-art Fire Control Systems, secured communications and cybersecurity solutions. As experts in our various domains, Thales is also a major part of two technical seminars, on air defence and maritime surveillance.
What Thales equipment is well suited for the Thai armed forces?
Thales has a strong legacy of providing high-technology solutions in the naval and air defence domain to the Thai armed forces. For example, given our success in providing the integrated and scalable TACTICOS Combat Management System to the Royal Thai Navy, they are familiar with our technology and it facilitates maintenance and training support across their entire fleet.
Thales also has very strong capabilities in air defence, having supplied two batches of the StarStreak air defence system to the Royal Thai Army. The system is an extremely versatile round to air missile system suitable for multiple force use (Army, Air Force, Navy) and suitable for integration into a wider fully-integrated air defence system including all ranges of radars.
We have a strong portfolio of solutions that can meet the needs of the Armed Forces as they seek to modernise their capabilities.
Is Thales supplying any equipment for existing Thai platforms and what are the upgrade opportunities?
Thales has supplied the Royal Thai Army (RTA) with Ground surveillance radars, namely the Squire and BOR-A radars, all of which are currently in service. Thales has also supplied two batches of the StarStreak air defence system to the RTA in recent years. In 2020, we delivered a C5i system, with DTI, for use in the BTR 3CS vehicle. Eight per cent of the Royal Thai Navy’s fleet is equipped with Thales technology. In 2019, Thales delivered two large RTN projects: the Bang Rachan Class Mine Hunters and the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan.
As prime contractor for the Bang Rachan project, Thales was wholly responsible for the revised vessel design, repairs and modernisation, procurement of equipment, and platform integration. The ships are now upgraded to be equipped with new solutions, including an engine machinery control system, navigation systems, upgraded communications capabilities, Sonar TSM 2022 MkIII with M-CUBE (C2) and a multi-influence signature range to manage RTN ships’ signatures.
For the OPV 2, Thales was appointed as Key System Integrator providing the most advanced Thales combat management system (TACTICOS), surveillance radars, fire control radars, radar ESM sensors, TACAN, a modern integrated bridge and navigation system, an integrated communication system including the Thales tactical data link (LINK-Y Mk2), and the integration of weapon systems. We look forward to providing long-term maintenance support for this equipment. Given our strong naval legacy, we are strongly positioned as the go-to partner for the RTN for all upgrades and new build requirements for their Above- and Underwater needs.
Please elaborate on Thales’ presence in Thailand?
Thales has over 50 years’ experience of working in Thailand, both in the defence and civilian sectors including aerospace, air traffic management, transportation, digital identity and security sectors. Headquartered in Sathorn, Bangkok, Thales employs close to 700 employees. 90% of which are Thai nationals.
As a longstanding partner of the Thai Government, Thales enables the transfer of knowledge and technology as part of key projects that support Thailand’s technological and economic transformation (Thailand 4.0), including state-of-the-art technology in defence, transport, space, aerospace and biometrics. This transfer involves working with local industry as well as the Defence Technology Institute (DTI).
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