Thales : and partners secure AGP funding to develop capabilities for lighter, safer, more fuel efficient aircraft
July 18, 2014 at 07:39 am
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Key points
AGP has granted £6.4m funding to Thales and partners
The HARNet research programme to look at future comms systems for civil aircraft
Integrated Modular Communications is smaller, lighter, and offers a more flexible capability.
Thales and its partners have been awarded £6.4 million from the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) fund for the HARNet (Harmonised Antennas, Radios and Networks) strategic research programme.
Thales and industry partner Cobham will invest an additional £5.2 million into the research. The programme will be aided and supported by the research of the University of Bradford, the University of Southampton, and Queen Mary, University of London.
The partnership will develop the radio techniques and technologies required to develop an Integrated Modular Communications (IMC) system for civil aircraft using software defined radio technology.
This IMC will help remove capacity constraints, meaning improved operational efficiency and a reduction in fuel burn, noise and CO₂ emissions. An IMC would also offer higher reliability, safety and security.
OEMs benefit from this approach as less equipment will need to be installed on new aircraft, freeing up critical space, reducing weight and using less power. For the airlines reduced weight means reduced costs.
"This investment will help bring to fruition the technologies and products that will tackle some of the big issues facing the aviation industry. It will also help retain valuable skills, expertise and technologies within the UK. We welcome this investment flook forward to working with industry and academia to advance communications systems for civil aircraft."
Peter Hitchcock Avionics, Thales UK
Thales is one of the European leaders in manufacturing and marketing of electronic equipment and systems for the defense and security, aerospace, and transportation sectors. Net sales break down by product group as follows:
- defense and security systems (53.4%): C4I defense and security systems (control and monitoring systems, communication, protection, cyber-security, and other systems), defense mission systems, naval systems, electronic war systems, drones, air operation systems (air defense, air surveillance), ground defense systems and missiles;
- aerospace systems (28.4%): avionics equipment (cockpit, cabin multimedia, and simulation equipment), space systems (satellites, payloads, etc.);
- digital identification and security solutions (18.2%).
Besides, the group owns a 35% stake in Naval Group (manufacture of naval equipment for defense and nuclear energy sectors).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: France (29.5%), the United Kingdom (6.6%), Europe (24.8%), the United States and Canada (14%), Asia (9.4%), Near and Middle East (6%), Australia and New Zealand (4.4%) and other (5.3%).