Thales Chosen by Canada to Deliver Essential Support for Navy’s Minor Warships and Auxiliary Fleet
Thales has today revealed that the Government of Canada – as articulated by Canadian Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau during the NATO Summit in Latvia – has bestowed upon Thales Canada and Thales Australia, in partnership, an ISS contract for MWAV.
This agreement will guarantee that the fleet remains operationally proficient and incorporates the adaptability to augment or diminish the number of vessels serviced in response to the RCN’s continually evolving operational demands, including Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s most significant overseas mission to NATO assurance and deterrence in Central and Eastern Europe. It encompasses an initial service duration of five years for up to $450 million CAD (approximately €305 million) with additional one-year extensions available, potentially prolonging services up to a total of nineteen years.
Thales also delivers ISS to Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and Joint Support Ships (JSS), collectively known as AJISS. Thales thus emerges as the leading ISS provider to the RCN, tasked with assuring mission-readiness and accessibility of 26 classes and more than 100 vessels.
Thales is dedicated to Canada and to empowering Canadian industries to support naval ISS for many years to come. This contract leverages Thales’ profound expertise in digital technologies, such as AI, big data, connectivity, and cybersecurity, to modernize and enhance the fleet. Together with AJISS, the inclusion of MWAV in the Thales portfolio will facilitate skills enhancement and the creation of thousands of job opportunities across a myriad of Canadian suppliers of various sizes.
To cultivate a sustainable domestic ISS sector that fosters continual capability, Thales is partnering with Indigenous enterprises and communities like the Malahat Nation, start-ups, academic institutions, Canada’s innovation superclusters, and small to medium-sized enterprises through initiatives like AI@Centech, SYNERGY, Naval Technology Innovation Challenges, and its new National Digital Excellence Centre.
“Thales is devoted to serving those who serve and to fulfilling the promise of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. We are motivated to utilize the expertise we have introduced to Canada from Australia, along with the knowledge we’ve gained under AJISS. We welcome the opportunity for enhanced collaboration across Canada’s diverse and talent-rich innovation ecosystems to build capabilities, revolutionize naval in-service support, and deliver both value and excellence to the RCN,” stated Chris Pogue, CEO of Thales Canada.
