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45, rue de Villiers, 92526 Neuilly sur Seine Cedex - France - Tel.: +33 (0) 1 57 77 86 26 - Fax: +33 (0) 1 57 77 87 44 - www.thalesgroup.com

DEFEXPO 2010

Changi Exhibition Center, India

February 15 – 18, 2010

Stand A12 hall 12

Thales in India

Thales at Defexpo 2010

• Army Systems

• Air Protection / Air Defence Systems

• Naval Systems

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Press Contacts

At the show Natasha Harvey Thales, Aerospace Tel: + 33 6 74 94 23 81 [email protected] --

Caroline Philips Thales, Corporate Communications Tel: +33 1 57 77 86 26 [email protected]

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Thales in India

Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace and Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008, the company generated revenues of 12.7 billion euros with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. Thales has been operating in India since 1953, participating in the creation of Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), and has been a close partner of the Indian Armed Forces ever since. After opening its first permanent representative office in Delhi in 1970, Thales created Thales India in 2003, in order to deliver reliable and high-level support services to its various customers. Today, Thales India provides equipment and services to the three Indian armed forces. In 2006, Thales India opened an office in Mumbai, followed by one in Cochin in 2007, and another in Gwalior in 2009, for the support of the Mirage 2000 fleet. Thales will open offices in Wizag and Bangalore in 2010 to further improve it’s the proximity of its services to customers and partners. In 2006, Thales formed a JV with Rolta to locally develop C4ISR world-class solutions for the Indian homeland security market. Located in Mumbai, the JV employs 40 persons. Furthermore, in 2008 Thales signed a JV agreement with Samtel to locally develop and produce Helmet Mounted Displays and modern avionics for the defence market. Based in Noida, this second JV provides the basis for future aerospace development in India. Thales Software India was created in Chennai in 2007 to develop software for its worldwide customer base and now employs 200 people. The Group’s objective and strategy in India consists of reinforcing its partnership with Indian industry through the transfer of technology and the creation of solid joint venture companies. Thales, a trusted partner for the Indian Armed Forces Thales is recognized as a reliable partner of all three of the Indian Armed Forces. Thales’s equipment and systems have been selected for various types of platforms for the Navy, the Air force as well as the Army. For the Air Force , Thales supplies Reconnaissance pods Vicon 91 and is also the supplier of radar, optronics, communications, electronic warfare and simulators. Thales also provides the Indian Air Force , with avionics and Inertial Navigation Global Positioning System to IAF Mirage 2000, Su-30 as well as MiG 21, 27 and 29. In 2009, Thales has been awarded a contract to supply 19 Low Level Transportable Radar (LLTR) systems to the Indian Air Force, strengthening its position in the air defence domain where it has been present through radars and systems such as THD 1955, Master M, Flycatcher Mark 1 and Reporter, Thales has sold 500 Sophie Thermal Imagers to the Army and equipped the T90 with the most recent Catherine FC. Thales Optronics offer is based on most recent technology and proposed to the Indian Army with extended Transfer of Technology. Thales Comint Systems are in service to the full satisfaction of the Indian Army under the name of the Recce 1, 2 and 3 programmes. In the domain of Electronic Warfare, Thales works in partnership with BEL for the full range of its capabilities. Thales also provides systems and equipment to the Indian Navy - including electronic warfare, communication systems, and sonars mounted on the Sea King helicopters (FLASH) and Scorpene Submarines. Sold on the Karwar upgrade programme, the Thales Integrated Mine Warfare System is also proposed on the new MCMV programme of the Navy.


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Thales at Defexpo 2010

Army Systems

Optronics Sophie ZS The latest generation of hand-held thermal imagers dedicated to security and surveillance Thales’s Sophie hand-held thermal imager is equipped with the most recent staring array infrared technologies in order to deliver the optimum solution for surveillance applications. Moreover, the camera features a continuous optical zoom with image stabilisation and autofocus, thus delivering excellent precision and continuity. As such, it can provide smooth images from wide field of view (observation, urban zone) to narrow field of view (identification). Sophie ZS is dedicated to long-range surveillance using high quality optical zoom, integrating an ergonomic Human-Machine Interface and new communication tools, which facilitate mission reporting. In addition, the camera is network enabled using the latest technologies available on the civil market such has USB, Bluetooth and Ethernet, combined with extensive image storage (up to 2 GB) and video transmission capabilities.

Sophie ZS

LF28A Thales family of Laser Designators includes the globally acclaimed, field-proven LF28A. In service with a number of forces around the world, LF28A is a compact, lightweight designator with a proven high level of reliability. LF28A requires no cooling and its low mass and volume enables it to be carried by a single soldier.

LF28A

Tactical Radiocommunications Thales offers a comprehensive set of tactical communication solutions combining networks and radios to meet military specific requirements such as security, survivability, mobility, interoperability and quality of service. Two major improvements this year to Di@ne (Deployable Tactical Internet): TWS 6000 tactical Wimax for brigade and above, and FlexNet the new Software Defined Radio (SDR) solution, for battalion and below. FlexNet First SDR to the international market, now moving to production Thales is strengthening its leadership in new-generation communications systems by providing a future proof FlexNet solution, the first true Software defined radio based on SCA tested in the field in Europe and having three references and more than 1500 units in order.


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With new high data rate (several Mbits/sec) and ad hoc (self-organized) networking capabilities, the FlexNet solution dramatically increases the amount of information which can be exchanged between users, introduces new possibilities for cooperative combat engagement between different units and provides the enhanced mobility required by armed forces.

FlexNet

TWS 6000: new tactical wimax Thales has developed a brand-new TWS 6000 tactical broadband wireless solution, providing a lightweight and scalable Point-To-Multipoint system, for fixed and On-The-Halt applications. The TWS 6000 solution is based on TWS 6100 SmartBone radio, and can be deployed with various type of antennas, including the unique TWS 6200 FESA smart antenna featuring directional gain capacity with omni directional coverage. The TWS 6000 is a very versatile, easy to deploy and use, and affordable broadband radio solution able to cope with a large range of operational requirements (HQ Deployable Command Post, sensors networking, rear access network, backhauling...).

Electronic Warfare TRC 6200 The TRC 6200 is a new generation multirange digital direction-finder. It performs the parallel processing of several channels by digital processing techniques and provides the direction of targets with the best algorithms, interferometry or 'super resolution'. Designed for electronic warfare systems applications, the TRC 6200 covers the frequency range from 0.3 to 3,000 MHz and has been designed to counter modern military transmissions such as frequency hopping, free channel search and burst transmissions. Its modular design allows the TRC 6200 to be adapted for fixed installation, semi-mobile or fully mobile applications in air, ground and sea environments.

To fulfill different operational requirements, the TRC 6200 can be used with various types of antenna arrays (tactical and integrated antennas) and various types of DF algorithms (Watson-Watt, interferometer and correlative matrix).

TRC 6200

CNI (Communication, Navigation, Identification)

Tri-service IFF Thales’s Tri-service IFF solutions deliver the best in class, modern Identification Friend or Foe capability. Fully interoperable with civil and military NATO standards including the Mode 5 (M5) and the Mode S (MS), Thales versatile solutions range from equipment supply to global fleet retrofit or end-to-end National Secure Mode (NSM) with the highly secure MX5 capability. Therefore it enables both coalition operations with NATO forces and full national sovereignty for autonomous airborne, shipborne and ground operations. With modular equipment and scalable solutions, Thales offers comprehensive and cost effective solutions either for new air, ground and naval platforms or retrofit programmes. With long experience with worldwide customers and platform integrators, Thales is a preferred long-term partner delivering solutions to minimise fratricide and improve the operational effectiveness of military forces.


Air Protection / Air Defence Systems

Air Protection Ground Master 400 A new generation of air defence radars The Ground Master is a family of versatile, multi-mission air defence radars, dedicated to the protection of key assets and forces deployed in remote theatres. This series of static and mobile radars provides complete air defence protection with a range of 400 kilometres. Thales delivers integrated systems; its Ground Master family of radars can be delivered as a simple radar system to be integrated with existing command and control centres (C2) or with their own integrated command and control centre (radar + communications + command and control centre). At the top-end of the Ground Master family, with its unique digital and redundant architecture, the Ground Master 400 radar is the most reliable and compact long-range radar on the market. This radar offers the highest operational availability, a highly simplified maintenance, and the most compact design making it easily deployable for remote operations. This enables minimum transport aircraft rotations from the national territory to the operational theatre. The GM 400 is a commercial success, so far, 18 GM 400s have been sold to five countries. In 2008, Thales bolstered its vanguard position in the air defence radar field, winning several key contracts. These include providing the latest Ground Master 400 digital air defence radar to customers in Slovenia, Malaysia and France. In April 2009 Thales was selected to deliver Medium Range Air Surveillance Systems including 14 Ground Master 400 radar systems, 12 for Finland and two for Estonia.

Air Defence

Shikra Surveillance radar and Coordination Shikra is the backbone of Thales’s Ground Based Air Defence solution. Shikra is composed of a high performance 3D Multibeam radar associated with an embedded or remote located Engagement Control Station. The Shikra radar provides a complete air space surveillance in a very large area: - range up to 250 km, - ceiling up to 25 000m. Shikra is designed to detect all types of targets, combat aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, including the most advanced, high-manoeuvring low observable stealth threats. Shikra radar can track 200 targets simultaneously in hostile environment characterised by ground, sea surface, rain and artificial clutter and in severe Electronic Counter Measure conditions. Shikra further stands apart from its rivals due to its compact design, great flexibility, high tactical and strategic mobility, high availability easy maintenance, low Life Cycle Cost. The main technical differentiators that contribute to the Shikra’s superlative performance are its solid-state transmitter, specific data processing, very low-altitude detection capacities and the use of full-stacked beam technologies.

Shikra

ADES Air Defence Extended Solution Thanks to recent technological evolutions, Thales is today proposing a breakthrough in Air Defence.

Ground Master 400

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ADES is a compact multi-missile solution that provides an integrated defence solution adapted to respond to all kinds of threat.

Until now, the traditional approach was to organize air defence into segments such as VSHORAD, SHORAD, VL seeker and MRAD.

As a result, customers had to mix and match different systems from different suppliers to address, as efficiently as possible, air defence requirements. This significantly increased the cost of the global solution as well as Life Cycle Costs by increasing the number of operators, drivers and officers required to operate the system.

In ADES, the traditional system architecture has been replaced by a brand new one allowing the integration of V-SHORAD, SHORAD, VL seeker missiles on a single air defence solution.

ADES is the first air defence solution including two guidance modes: radar and laser beam riding.

The brand new 3D radar technology, integrated in the ADES system, allows over 60 km range detection on fighter aircrafts. New digital multi beam forming provides an unequalled capability to detect very low altitude and very low RCS targets. New software architecture and new intuitive Human Machine Interfaces allow all functions - air picture, TEWA and engagement control - to be integrated on the same unit.

ADES

Missile SystemsThales’s missile business has a growing range of innovative missiles for the short-range and tactical arenas. It also provides a wealth of experience in the design and integration of launch platforms.

Air defence has been the traditional mainstay of the Thales missile business, which is maintained through its Starstreak Mk2 and VT1 missiles.

With the introduction of the LMM (Lightweight Multi-role Missile), and development with Saab of the NLAW (Next-generation Light Attack Weapon), the company has applied its expertise to the precision attack of surface targets.

Thales is also a leading player in the development of non-lethal weapons.

LMM Lightweight Multi-role Missile

In the surface attack arena, Thales has drawn on its expertise with high-velocity air defence weapons to develop the LMM. Based on the Starstreak, LMM has a unitary warhead in place of the air defence missile’s three-dart system, and a guidance system optimised for high precision.

LMM offers customers a missile with high precision but very low collateral damage properties, ideal for use in urban conflicts. It is available at greatly reduced cost when compared with current systems such as Hellfire or Spike.

Thales LMM has numerous applications, and will expand into a family of related weapons for numerous roles. It has already been trialled on fixed-wing (BAE Systems Fury) and rotary-wing (Schiebel Camcopter) UAVs, and has been selected for integration with the Augusta Westland Lynx Wildcat battlefield helicopter.

Surface-to-surface applications are being studied, both on land and at sea.

LMM

Starstreak

Starstreak– now in its improved Mk2 version – is a unique laser beam-riding VSHORAD (very short-range air defence) high-velocity missile that continues to draw significant interest. Its ability to be launched immediately and unjammable guidance give it an important capability against new battlefield threats such as UAVs and cruise missiles, as well as traditional battlefield targets. Weighing just 14 kg, Starstreak Mk2 has Mach 3+ capability out to a range of around 7 km. It can be used from a variety of platforms, from a three-round man-portable Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) to an eight-round armoured vehicle system operated from below armour.


Naval Systems

Integrated Systems Thales is one of the world’s leading naval defence contractors, with capabilities spanning the entire value chain from sensors (radars, sonars and optronic equipment), communication and electronic warfare systems to combat system design, development and integration, as well as naval services. The Group is also supporting the ongoing transformation of naval forces and their operational requirements. Integrated Mast The Thales I-Mast is a suite of sensor and communication systems that is installed onto the ship as a plug and play system, needing only interfaces for power, data transmission and coolant. The I-Mast reduces operational costs and shipbuilding time, while improving performance thanks to the use of non-rotating phased array radars. Also maintenance is made easy because all electronics are inside the mast structure. The I-Mast 400 is under contract for the Royal Netherlands Navy for the HOLLAND class OPVs. It includes the SMILE (SEAMASTER 400) 3D air surveillance radar, the SEASTAR (SEAWATCHER 100) surface surveillance radar, the GATEKEEPER short-range electro-optical surveillance system and a full range of communication and IFF antenna's. Thales is currently developing the I-Mast 100, a smaller version of the I-Mast 400, intended for use on Fast Attack Craft, Fast Patrol Boats, or corvettes. Advantages of the Integrated Mast: - Unblocked view for Radar, EO, ESM, IFF and

Communications - Better performance thanks to non-rotating four

face phased array technology - Shorter shipbuilding times thanks to pre-test and

pre-integration - Lower setting to work costs - Easier maintenance and lower lifecycle costs TACTICOS Thales's TACTICOS system (TACTical Information & COmmand System) is a fully distributed combat management system (CMS) that provides command and control, command support and fire control functions on single naval platforms as well as in flotillas, thanks to its inherent network capabilities.

TACTICOS integrates sensor and weapon systems into a single operational suite that acts as the nerve centre of the defence capability. With its modular design and open system architecture, TACTICOS offers remarkable scalability — both for evolutionary upgrades and for expansion to incorporate new functionality and additional sensor and/or weapon systems. TACTICOS is designed for vessels of all sizes.

TACTICOS

Undersea Warfare Thales is a world leader in the application of advanced technologies to meet underwater mission requirements. The company demonstrates this leadership in all areas of submarine sonar systems, anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures, with an unrivalled customer base and technologies that evolve with the changing operational environment. Submarine systems Thales experience in materials technology, signal and data processing, platform isolation, advanced beamforming techniques and user-friendly operator interfaces is now underpinning the development of a new generation of integrated systems offering outstanding detection performance against the quietest adversaries. The Thales Submarine offer comprises a full range of acoustic and non acoustic sensor suites (including the new generation S-Cube sonar suite, the CM010 non hull penetrating Optronic mast, the Phoenice Radar system and the VIGILE R-ESM/ELINT system) to provide the submarine with outstanding detection


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and ISR capacity. Thales provides as well extensive internal and external communications capabilities. The new generation S-Cube submarine sonar system migrates proven functionality to a COTS-based Open System Architecture, offering customers a totally new approach to a through-life sonar solution. Building on the highly successful TSM 2233 series, S-Cube exploits the flexibility of standard open system interfaces, protocols and services to establish an architecture which is scalable, interoperable, receptive to change and cost-effective throughout the life cycle. Innovative concepts are implemented into our current programmes such as Scorpene India and 209-type refit in South America; will also be the baseline for upcoming projects. Thales continues to work on innovative HCI solutions (use of vertical screens, improved ergonomic, etc) to provide state of the art, flexible user friendly and effective HCI interface. Towed Array Sonar Leading performance in fully reelable towed array sonar Thales proposes world leading performance in towed array sonar technologies. Thin array technologies and associated beam forming techniques have been developed and proven in operational service with the Royal Navy, the French Navy and other navies operating SSKs. Adaptable to a variety of hull forms the latest generation of towed array sonar design includes a compact handling system and is now being produced for an European Navy to provide operational flexibility combined with excellent long range detection and tracking capabilities.

Towed Array Sonar

Surface Ship Systems As the developer of the world's first operational active very low frequency sonar system, Thales Underwater Systems has captured the wealth of its active and passive sonar experience in the design and development of the CAPTAS family of variable depth sonars. Operation at lower frequencies exploits the favourable propagation conditions in the deep sound channel. Furthermore, advanced signal and data processing techniques allow CAPTAS to deliver tactically significant detection ranges and low false alarm rates even in the noisy shallow waters of the littoral. CAPTAS CAPTAS is a high performance, low frequency, active and passive variable depth sonar for surface ships. Its operational characteristics include:

o A high power, wide bandwidth low frequency projector for long range detection.

o A wide aperture single line receive array providing instantaneous left/right bearing ambiguity resolution.

o Hydrodynamically shaped towed body and faired tow cable for optimum depth control without the use of an active depressor.

o High performance signal and data processing including adaptive algorithms, reverberation rejection.

o Environmental evaluation and optimum system configuration guidance.

o An open architecture (COTS) implementation for supportability and through life upgrade.

o Two operational configurations, dependent or independent towing, are available

CAPTAS


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Naval Electronic Warfare Integrated Naval Self-Protection solutions Electronic Warfare systems are a vital part of a ship's capability to analyse its situation and protect itself from threats. They are the first line of defence, delivering real-time interception analysis, emission classification and the ability to deny enemy radar its role in detecting target ships. Thales supplies multispectral Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities to the world’s navies – capabilities that enable ships to detect before they are detected, to optimise their tactical situation awareness and to gather intelligence. Leveraging systems developed for latest-generation platforms (Type 45, Horizon, FREMM, etc.), Thales also offers upgrade solutions for warships already in service. In addition to designing its EW systems for maximum reliability, long life and easy through-life support, Thales also provides world-class ILS (Integrated Logistic support), obsolescence management, supply chain optimisation and rapid repair and overhaul. These services reduce life-cycle costs and ensure that each system remains efficient and effective. With over 50 years’ experience behind it, Thales develops and manufactures naval electronic warfare systems and applications for more than 50 countries, and is committed to working as closely as possible with operational personnel in armed forces around the globe.

Features and applications Thales’s on-board EWS solutions can be used as stand-alone systems with their own operator interfaces, or they can be integrated into a wide variety of combat management systems. They can also be interfaced to multi-function consoles. Features include extended frequency ranges, channelised receivers, on-board training systems and intrapulse analysis – available on any system and compatible with widely used commercial off-the-shelf technologies. This means simply that Thales’s EWS solutions are effective from day one with any legacy systems and have the capacity of evolving with the needs of each vessel. Key EWS products include Radar Electronic Support Measures (R-ESM, e.g. Vigile), Radar Electronic Countermeasures (R-ECM, e.g. Scorpion 2), active and passive decoy systems, and complete EWS suites1. A Thales suite comprising an active R-ECM system and active or passive decoying system offers excellent protection against incoming missiles. Such configurations can also deny a threat the use of its radars while detecting and targeting its units. EW suites provide a first line of defence against all types of radars carried by airborne, land-based, surface and subsurface platforms, as well as missiles. Specific capabilities include interception, analysis and classification. Thales’s EW suites provide vital capabilities for situation analysis and self-protection. Thales’s electronic warfare solutions for current and future platforms are based on modular architectures that are evolutionary and readily upgradeable and reconfigurable. An insistence on the highest technical standards, coupled with unique expertise, gives Thales the ability to anticipate and respond to future EW challenges.

1 Combined R-ESM/C-ESM submarine antenna developed in partnership with Rohde & Schwarz


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Thales – leader of the French team for Mirage 2000 Upgrade Programme Thales is a central player in Europe’s most advanced combat aircraft programmes - the Rafale - and is a key partner for the Mirage 2000 onboard equipment and mission systems. To meet the requirements expressed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the French Government proposes an upgrade package for the fleet of Mirage 2000 H/TH currently in service with the IAF. This operation is part of a broader strategic partnership between France and India and would be implemented under a specific government-to-government agreement. This operation is jointly organised with French industry players, those involved with the original design of the Mirage 2000, and calls for extensive involvement of Indian contractors for skills transfer, development of a national standard, maintenance and other tasks and responsibilities. It calls for extensive involvement of Indian contractors for skills transfer, development of a national standard, maintenance and other tasks and responsibilities. The upgrade would significantly enhance the IAF’s air potential by extending the operational performance of its existing Mirage fleet and taking full advantage of the aircraft's world-class capabilities. As a result, the IAF would have a coherent platform-system combination for the next 20 years at significantly lower cost than the acquisition of new-build aircraft, with equivalent performance. The IAF’s air potential will be further enhanced by the integration of new capabilities. These include longer-range detection across the entire spectrum, improved tactical situation awareness, longer-range weapon firing against multiple simultaneous targets, weapon stealth and extended operating envelope with the capability to engage ground targets while countering airborne threats. The resulting tactical advantage will allow commanders to commit fewer aircraft while achieving a higher success rate, thanks in particular to greater fuel and weapon-delivery capacities. For example, a typical border protection mission involving two hours on station will require just two upgraded Mirage 2000 aircraft, compared with six current aircraft.

Thales technologies onboard the Rafale

The Omnirole Fighter

The Rafale is the most advanced combat aircraft of its generation, delivering multi-mission capability that ensures its war fighting relevance beyond 2040. This highly agile fighter from Dassault Aviation is equipped with cutting edge technologies that make it fast deploying, self-supporting and combat effective, all within a limited size. The Rafale draws on sophisticated onboard electronic systems to carry out a wide range of missions day or night and in all weather conditions.

Thales provides equipment and systems – including avionics – that together account for approximately one third of the total value of each Rafale. The Rafale integrates the largest and most modern range of sensors by means of the multi-sensor data fusion concept that allows the pilot to access global situation awareness and make well-informed tactical decisions. This data fusion process links all sensors via the Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU) to make the Rafale a truly network centric warfighter.

This multi-sensor capability draws on the Active Electronic Scanning Antenna RBE2 Radar, Spectra electronic warfare system, Front-Sector Optronics, the Damocles optronic multi function pod, and the AREOS new optronic stand-off recce system, among others.

Rafale, with its omnirole capabilities, is the right answer to the capability approach. It fully complies with the requirement to carry out, with a reduced number of aircraft, a wide range of missions: quick reaction alert/air-defence/air sovereignty missions, power projection and deployments for external missions, deep strike missions, air support for ground forces, reconnaissance missions, pilot training sorties and nuclear deterrence duties.

Breakthrough Thales technologies can be found throughout this superior aircraft, from its cockpit to its warfare system. With an architecture designed for full scalability, these systems ensure the Rafale will

Airborne Systems


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continue to be at the cutting edge of warfighting innovation. Thales and Detection AESA RBE2 The largest sensor onboard the Rafale is the new generation Thales AESA RBE2 radar. The RBE2, Europe’s first Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, takes combat system performance to a new level. It replaces the conventional antenna and its mechanical steering system, and has allowed for greater reliability with respect to previous-generation radars. The RBE2 will give the Rafale the capability to track all targets in the radar field of view, irrespective of the relative location between targets and host aircraft. Other operational benefits include the detection of targets with low radar reflectivity and improved high quality ground imaging. The RBE2’s high performance air-to-air detection will make it possible to detect smaller targets and to detect them earlier. The industrialisation phase for the RBE2 was launched in 2006. Final validation of software functions is expected to end in the first quarter of 2010, with delivery of the radars to Dassault Aviation. Front-Sector Optronics Thales’s Front-Sector Optronics (FSO) system is fully integrated into the Rafale to provide covert long-range detection and identification, high-resolution angular tracking and laser range-finding for air, sea and ground targets. Operating in optical wavelengths, this sensor is immune to radar jamming. The FSO contributes to air situation awareness and reinforces the Rafale's capabilities to operate in severe environments. Lasers for measuring target distance give the sensor high-precision 3D localisation capabilities. Its near-visible waveband capability is especially valuable with its narrow field for identifying possible targets in situations where visual contact is required by the Rules of Engagement or during quick reaction alerts. Thales and Electronic Warfare Spectra The Rafale is equipped with the Spectra electronic warfare system, giving the aircraft a multi-spectral threat warning capability against hostile radars, missiles and lasers. This system is fully integrated into the Rafale for excellent survivability against air and ground threats. Spectra also contributes to passive tactical situation awareness, all-weather long-range detection, identification and location of threats, within a short response time. The system’s cutting-edge defensive

measures are based on combinations of omni-directional AESA jamming, multi-band decoying and evasive manoeuvres, as well as on state-of-the-art technologies such as Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) signal processing. Spectra’s angular location on the aircraft allows it to locate ground threats, to target them for destruction with precision-guided munitions, or to avoid them. Its threat library – which can be defined, integrated and updated on short notice by users in the home country – is instrumental to this performance. As operations unfold, protection onboard the Rafale can be continuously and fluidly enhanced using the system. Thales and Mission Systems Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU) Enough growth potential has been built into the Rafale to ensure that its design maintains warfighting relevance for several decades. The Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU) is the cornerstone of this avionics/ weapon upgradeability. Its modular architecture makes for a system that is highly adaptable, allowing straightforward integration of new avionics or new ordnance. Sensor data fusion draws on the computing power of the MDPU to process data from the AESA RBE2 radar, the Front-Sector Optronic system, the SPECTRA system, the IFF, the missile seekers and the data-link (L16 or custom). Damocles Optronic Pod The Thales Damocles multifunction targeting pod draws on its laser designation function to give the Rafale full day and night laser-guided weapon capabilities. Damocles is interoperable with all existing laser-guided weapons and provides outstanding performances for long-distance recognition. Damocles makes use of an embedded digital recorder to provide tactical reconnaissance with post-flight image analysis. The pod includes a forward-looking infrared navigation module that provides an image presented to the pilot in the cockpit. An infrared sensor also operates on Damocles in the mid-wave infrared band, allowing the system to retain its effectiveness in warm and/or humid conditions. AREOS system The AREOS Reco NG (Airborne and Reconnaissance and Observation) system is designed to meet a full spectrum of global operational requirements onboard the Rafale and withstand diverse weather conditions and scenarios. This pod integrates state-of-the-art digital technology both in its sensor and detector solutions, and its real/deferred time transmission capability.


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AREOS reduces cycle times for detection, decision and action so as to more quickly meet evolving mission demands. AREOS’s operational automatic imagery collection modes allow it to be easily integrated onto single seat aircraft, such as the Rafale. Mission debriefing system Thales supplies the mission debriefing system onboard the Rafale. This system simultaneously displays the aircraft’s trajectories in two- and three-dimensions via eight video displays and one audio emitter. It also depicts the movements and whereabouts of other aircraft involved in the same mission, as well as of air-to-air missiles fired. The mission debriefing is in service with the French Air Force. Thales and Communication, Navigation, Identification (CNI) CNI suite Thales provides the full Communication, Navigation, Identification (CNI) suite – including voice communications, Tactical Data Link, landing and radio navigation systems and Identification Friend and Foe functions - onboard the Rafale. The digital radio transceivers allow the Rafale to manage plain voice, secure voice, data link and image transmission modes for Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface communications in VHF and UHF bands.

Tactical Data Link Thales has developed a complete range of Tactical Data Link (TDL) solutions. Onboard the Rafale, these solutions offer a secure source of tactical data, including situation awareness, command & control, electronic warfare, orders and reports, flight pass and fighter-to-fighter information. Among other key players in combined air operations, this data is used with fellow aircraft in the formation, airborne and surface command and control centres, forward air controllers, etc.

Identification Friend-or-Foe Combined Interrogator Transponders Thales TSB 2500 IFF is a family of Combined Interrogator Transponders that are fully compliant with civil (including mode S), NATO (including mode 4/5) and/or national secure modes (NSM). The Rafale is equipped with an E-Scan version, which includes an Antenna Control Unit (ACU) for electronically steering the antenna. Thales in the Cockpit Thales supplies Dassault with most of the displays for the cockpit. For short-term actions, the Rafale pilot relies on the holographic head-up display (HUD), with a wide-field-of-view (30°x22°), for head-up flying. For

medium and long-term actions, the multi-image head-level display (HLD) allows analysis of the global tactical situation through its 20°x20° screen. The HLD picture is focused at the same distance as the HUD picture to allow for fast eye transitions between head-up and head-level flying and the external world's view.

Thales and Electrical Systems

Thales is a world reference for variable frequency power generation and has integrated this technology onboard the Rafale to reduce the aircraft’s weight and maintenance costs. Variable frequency technology is characterized by better efficiency than constant frequency technology traditionally used on aircraft. The system takes mechanical power from the engine of the aircraft and transforms it into electricity to power systems onboard, such as the Rafale’s electrical flight control systems. Thales and Training & Simulation Thales, Sogitec and Dassault Aviation have together successfully developed two pilot training centres to support the training of Rafale fighter pilots. The French Air Force and Navy rely on the Saint-Dizier Rafale simulation centre in Eastern France to train pilots for this prestigious aircraft and in 2009 added a second Rafale simulation centre at the Landivisiau naval air base in North-western France. The two simulation centres will soon be networked so they can carry out joint training missions. The simulator cockpits recreate a realistic environment for the pilot. Rafale pilots can perform individual or crew missions in a complex tactical environment including aerial combat using data link (L16), ground attack, in-flight refuelling, aircraft carrier launches, deck landings and taking into account the evolution of weather conditions. Thales and Support Thales also provides services for the Rafale, reducing life cycle costs for the aircraft and ensuring that each system onboard remains efficient and effective. Thales’s long life and easy through-life support is forged through its world-class ILS (Integrated Logistic Support), obsolescence management, supply chain optimisation, as well as rapid repair and overhaul.

press kit defexpo 2010 110210 - homepage | thales group · · 2013-07-19thales at defexpo 2010...

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