Thales unveil the latest incarnation of their AQUILON naval communications system at DSEI.
Thales has exclusively disclosed to MONS the latest member of its AQUILON naval Integrated Communications System, dubbed the AQUILON COMTICS.
Employing a similar approach to that used in the civilian smartphone world, COMTICS employs touch screen technology to enable the user to access internal and external voice and IP (Internet Protocol) communications. The system can be used in a fixed configuration, at a workstation for example, or be employed with a dedicated system such as a secure smartphone or tablet.
COMTICS can be configured by the user regarding the communications systems that they require, or have access to, and employs a similarly intuitive approach to that seen on civilian smartphones. Using the COMTICS architecture, the user can access a vessel’s high frequency, very/ultra high frequency and satellite communications networks, alongside internal and external IP services. Thales emphasise that the product has a back-up analogue voice communications system, alongside robust cyber and communications jamming protection to ensure communications security. The company continued that COMTICS will be delivered over the next 18 months for installation onboard the French Navy’s forthcoming FTI (Frégates de Taille Intermédiaire/Intermediate Class Frigate) vessels which will replace the fleet’s current ‘La Fayette’ class frigates from circa 2023. Moreover, within the next two years, Thales will commence deliveries of COMTICS to the Marine (German Navy) for installation onboard the services’ ‘K-130/Braunschweig’ class corvettes.
TW