Thales's Naval DRAKON solution enhances interoperability and secure connectivity for naval forces

• With the return of high-intensity conflicts and an increasingly complex threat environment, naval forces must be prepared to take part in allied operations involving the coordinated deployment of multiple platform types including surface ships, submarines, aircraft and unmanned platforms.
• Thales has developed Naval DRAKON to meet these new requirements, providing a cybersecure, interoperable connectivity solution for deployed forces by tying together multiple communication systems (military and commercial satcoms, VLF/LF, HF, V/UHF, etc.).
• The new solution enables naval forces to control their electromagnetic footprint at sea and adapt communications to the operational tempo of the mission by prioritising data rate, discretion, resilience or low latency.

"With Naval DRAKON, Thales is opening a new chapter in naval communications by guaranteeing secure, seamless communications for all the platforms deployed on collaborative combat operations, whatever the circumstances," said Alexandre Bottero, Vice President, Networks and Infrastructure Systems, Thales.

With the growing number of platform types deployed (allied naval formations, unmanned surface vessels, unmanned air systems, etc.), the broad array of communication systems available and the multitude of threats (missiles, torpedoes, drones, etc.), naval force coordination is becoming increasingly complex.

Naval DRAKON was specifically developed to provide high-data-rate, robust and secure communications between naval vessels, airborne sensors and command centres. It is designed around an open architecture to support all the latest and most advanced communications technologies such as wideband HF (HF XL), ultra-compact multi-orbit satcom terminals, high-data-rate LOS radio and software-defined V/UHF.

This sea-proven solution enables naval forces to control their electromagnetic footprint at sea and adapt communications to the operational tempo of the mission by prioritising data rate, discretion, resilience or low latency.

Naval DRAKON is the naval version of Thales's DRAKON solution for land forces, which was presented at Eurosatory in June 2024, and draws on the same operational expertise and proven capabilities.

Thales is a recognised leader in critical systems integration, working with more than 20 naval shipyards around the world and equipping more than 400 naval platforms, including about 100 submarines, over the last 40 years. Earlier this year, the Jacques Chevallier, the first of France's new fleet replenishment tankers, completed a deployment of several months equipped with the COMTICS voice distribution system and the PARTNER-C communications management system.

The other fleet replenishment tankers in the Jacques Chevallier class, as well as the FDI defence and intervention frigates for France and Greece and the UK Royal Navy's T31 frigates, will be the first vessels to be equipped with this new, scalable solution, which will support advanced functionalities such as spectrum management, decision support, flow management, cybersecurity management and smart maintenance.

Naval DRAKON will tie together all these services and functionalities to provide a fully integrated solution for naval forces.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader serving the Defence & Security, Aerospace & Space and Cybersecurity & Digital Identity markets.

The Group develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

Thales invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion.