Thales successfully supplied the state-of-the-art communication systems for the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales Aircraft Carriers, as part of the largest communications installation ever provided to the Royal Navy.
The highly complex, fully integrated communication system sits at the centre of the navy’s largest and most powerful vessels, forming the central nervous system of the Aircraft Carriers, without which these guardians of the sea would not be able to operate.
The highly secure system provides Carriers with everything they need from on-board satellite connectivity to emergency internal phones and enables encrypted communications to be carried out with the vessel, to aircraft, neighbouring ships or back to shore.
What makes the onboard and fleetwide communication system exceptionally impressive is the system scale and level of complexity involved in integrating all of the communication bearers into a seamless, single solution. This was achieved due to the strength and depth of Thales’ expertise and is why we have been global leaders in the provision of military communication systems for over 60 years.
The Thales system provides the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers with confidence and assurance that their high security communications are encrypted at all times.
We provide a protected information exchange that guarantees our customer’s sovereignty with different and separated layers of security.
What sets the Aircraft Carrier apart from its floating counterparts is the fact that it is an airfield, capable of carrying 40 aircraft. This means its communication system has to fulfil the dual role of acting as an air traffic control platform.
Our communication system provides all the safety and legislative requirements for the Aircraft Carrier’s to operate their air operations effectively.
The Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales Aircraft Carriers will be in service for over 50 years, meaning their communication systems must stay operational and keep pace with the evolving needs of the Royal Navy throughout this time.
Thales is responsible for maintaining, supporting and managing the through-life of the communication systems throughout the carrier’s lifetime, ensuring the fleet is always ready for operations.
Learn more about our communication support services
Our communication systems may be some of the best in the world, however, they are of no use if crew cannot use them to best effect.
We provide the training facility and communication systems at HMS Collingwood so Navy personnel can learn how to operate and use the equipment on exact replicas of the systems that they will use in service.
Learn more about the training services we provide to the Royal Navy
The communications systems at the heart of the two most powerful and advanced warships ever built for the Royal Navy include:
Thales’s intuitive and user-friendly Communications Management System seamlessly manages, configures and monitors thousands of pieces of communications equipment across the ship. With features such as spectrum management, decision support, flow routing management and cybersecurity, automation of key functions enables operators to focus on their critical tasks.
Tactical voice terminals
Hundreds of terminals distributed around the ship enable anyone from the chef to the captain to communicate with other crew members. Fully tailorable with each user position providing the required tactical communications services, administrative telephony as well as secure external communications over all available bearers.
HF Radio system
The carrier’s HF radio system provides ‘Beyond Line of Sight’ (BLOS) secure voice and data communications, with multiple HF lines enabling simultaneous links to shore and within a task group, including interoperability with allies.
Satellite communications
The ship’s satellite communications are also part of the integrated communications system, providing long range high bandwidth voice and data services.
V/UHF and L-band communications system
On board HMS Queen Elizabeth, this system provides key voice and data communication between the platform and aircraft. It is the largest installation in the RN fleet – large enough to support the carrier’s complement up to 40 aircraft. The integration of cryptographic equipment combined with a distribution network provide secure end-to-end air and ground communications.
Land forces communications
The integration of the BOWMAN land forces communications system into the naval communication infrastructure facilitates seamless HF and V/UHF communication with land forces on deployment in boarding and littoral operations.
Broadcast and alarms
With more than 2,000 loudspeakers throughout the ship and equipment in almost every compartment, this system enables whole ship and sectional broadcasts and ship wide alarm services.
Self-powered telephones
Throughout the ship, these telephones provide an emergency or secondary-use voice service without the need for power.
These sub-systems are part of an end-to-end complete naval communications system incorporating Thales and third party equipment.