Thales Awarded Contract by French MoD to Build Deployable Communications Networks for Theatres of Operations
The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has entrusted Thales with the design of deployable and high-speed communications networks for theatres of operations, a major asset for collaborative combat. Thales will deliver more than 200 modular, mobile stations in phase 3 of the ASTRIDE 3 contract. Rapid to deploy and compliant with NATO interoperability standards, ASTRIDE 3 will enable France to command coalition forces as a framework nation, as well as provide the French armed forces with an autonomous multi-brigade force projection capability.
ASTRIDE 3 will meet all these requirements by integrating new connectivity systems such as latest-generation satellite terminals (SYRACUSE IV), HCLOS (high-capacity line-of-sight) communications, tactical software-defined radios (CONTACT) and digital wireless services (LTE technology). These assets will interconnect the battlespace and provide a resilient network of connected command posts from theatre level down to tactical units. ASTRIDE 3 could also offer defence cloud hosting capabilities to meet the needs of collaborative command structures and support a broader computer network defence (CND) initiative to deal with cyber threats.
The integrated, automated ASTRIDE 3 stations will accelerate and simplify maneuvers in the theatre of operations, enabling forces to deploy different versions of the station – hardened container, shelter (transport cases) or pre-integrated in armored vehicles in the SCORPION ecosystem – to adapt to an extremely wide range of tactical situations. Wireless connections will shorten command post deployment times by significantly reducing the number of manual operations required. In addition, the network planning, command, and supervision tools MOSART, will give land forces unprecedented agility in adapting to the tempo of their mission.
ASTRIDE 3 stations will meet the latest FMN (Federated Mission Network) interoperability standards and enable France to act as a framework nation for forces command at Land Component Command (LCC) or Division level.
