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The prime is set to continue supporting the Navy with maritime communications capability as part of a new contract.
Defence has awarded a contract extension to Thales Australia for the SEA 1442 Phase 3 program, which involves the delivery of an internet protocol (IP)-based Maritime Tactical Wide Area Network (MTWAN).
The MTWAN is designed to support the Royal Australian Navy’s Maritime Communications Modernisation and network-centric warfare priorities.
The solution involves an integrated IP-based digital environment, interfacing with a range of existing RAN systems.
The offering leverages commercial off-the-shelf components, tipped to reduce through-life support costs.
Since securing the SEA 1442 Phase 3 contract, Thales has developed and deployed several major baseline upgrades of MTWAN to deliver increased bandwidth for deployed forces, diversity of communication bearers and enhanced cyber security of tactical networks at sea.
This work has included the integration of additional commercial and military SATCOM systems, joint domain networks, and improved bandwidth utilisation tools.
The work has been delivered from Thales’ Secure Communications Centre of Excellence at Rydalmere in Western Sydney.
“We’ve actively supported the RAN for the last 12 years with the MTWAN system, ensuring this critical capability delivers the security and reliability the RAN requires on operation,” vice president for digital systems at Thales Australia and New Zealand, Peter Bull, said.
“We’re proud the Commonwealth has shown confidence in its partnership with Thales Australia by extending this MTWAN support contract even further.”
[Related: Defence, Thales meet to remedy OneSKY-CMATS concerns ]
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