Mr. Norman R.A. Smyth, President of Thales Systems Canada Inc. (Thales Systems) of Ottawa, Ontario, announced today that the Company has been selected by the Canadian Government, as part of the Fenco Engineers team (a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin), to provide electronic systems for the twelve Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels being constructed for the Canadian Navy. Mr. Smyth’s announcement followed a formal announcement in Halifax by The Honourable Paul Dick, Minister of Supply and Services that the Prime Contract, worth an estimated $500 million, was to be awarded to Fenco. In addition to Thales Systems, other members of the Fenco team include Halifax-Dartmouth Industries Limited and German Marine of Nova Scotia, MacDonald Dettwiler of British Columbia, and Eduplus of Quebec.

In making his announcement, Mr. Smyth said that Thales Systems’ share of the MCDV Program is approximately 10%, making it one of the largest systems integration projects undertaken to date by the Company. Thales Systems will have responsibility for the majority of the MCDV’s mission systems including the exterior and interior communications, sensors (S-band surveillance and X-band precision navigation radar, electro-optical systems, IFF), navigation, weapons and minesweeping. Thales Systems will also have responsibility for most of the integrated logistics support.

The navigation system to be developed by Thales Systems includes a differential GPS positioning system complete with shipboard equipment and three shore reference stations, as well as LORAN C, speed log, gyrocompass, echo sounder, non-electrical navigation aids, and meteorological equipment. This precise navigation system provides repeatable positional accuracy to within ±5 metres - a difficult objective to attain, yet one which is necessary to meet the ship’s operational requirements.

The exterior communication system being developed by Thales Systems includes LF/MF/HF, VHF, and UHF equipment for plain and secure voice and data, as well as PC-based communications control and monitoring system and message processing system. These systems will use software developed by Thales Systems in Ada for this application. The communications system design was supported by extensive analysis of predicted performance, including propagation ranges, interference effects, antenna and sensor placement, etc. Portions of this system will also find application in other programs.

The MCDV project will eventually involve a team of approximately 40 engineering and technical personnel at Thales Systems over the seven year implementation phase. These highly trained personnel will encompass software, mechanical, and electrical engineering, as well as technical trades associated with system integration, test, installation, and support. The overall task of systems and logistics engineering is complicated by the facts that the MCDV vessels will be operated exclusively by members of the Naval Reserve and the ships will be supported by industry.

Thales Systems, based in Ottawa, Ontario, is a Systems Engineering Management Company which designs, develops, delivers, and supports defence and aerospace systems. The Company’s main products include Mission Systems, Command and Control Systems, Space Robotics, and Mine Clearing Systems. Thales Systems is a subsidiary of Thales, the world's second largest defence/aerospace electronics company.