Thales Awarded Adelaide Class Frigate Combat Systems Support Contract

Thales has won a contract worth $46 million to provide support for Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) Adelaide-Class Guided Missile Frigate (FFG) combat systems.

"This contract will ensure the FFG Class Combat System, which is among the most capable in the world, is effectively sustained until the RAN transitions to the new Air Warfare Destroyers," DMO chief executive officer Warren King said.

Capable of countering simultaneous threats from the air, surface and sub-surface, the FFG long-range escort ships can conduct missions including air defence, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, interdiction and reconnaissance.

The versatile FFG combat system has been developed as part of the FFG upgrade project. The contract also includes on-board systems and associated support facilities, while the work will be carried out at the company's facilities in Sydney and Perth, Australia.

"The Commonwealth looks forward to working with Thales in maintaining the war fighting capabilities of the FFG Fleet," King added.

Powered by a gas turbine for the main propulsion, the ships feature two forward mounted, retractable auxiliary propulsion units to provide a secondary means of propulsion and manoeuvrability in confined waters.

The FFGs are armed with the Standard medium range anti-aircraft missile, the Harpoon anti-ship missile, a 76mm gun to counter air and surface threats and one 20mm Phalanx close-in-weapon system for anti-missile defence.

The sensor package of the FFG includes long range radars for air and surface surveillance, electronic warfare surveillance sensors and a medium range sonar for detection of submarines.