French company Thales has secured a contract from the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) to supply 14 units of continuous wave illumination (CWI) transmitters for the Royal Danish Navy.
Thales' CWI transmitters will be deployed in the currently evolved sea sparrow missile (ESSM) fire-control systems on-board the Royal Danish Navy’s Absalon and Iver Huitfeldt-class vessels under the new deal.
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ESSM is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile.
The CWI transmitters are equipped with Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, in addition to a proven missile waveform generator (MWFG).
Delivery of the first CWI transmitter is scheduled for the middle of 2019, while the last unit is slated to for delivery in 2021.
Thales' CWI transmitters serve as one the major components in the fire control chain, emitting an X-band signal to illuminate threats, as well as facilitate the ESSM to ‘home in’ on the reflected signal.
Thales Netherlands Surface Radars and Above Water Systems vice-president Geert van der Molen said: “The CWI transmitter is an important product in our strategy as it strengthens our ability to provide complete ESSM fire control solutions in the market.”
The latest GaN technology and MWFG building block enable the Thales system to offer effective, unrivalled performance.
CWI transmitters are designed to be scalable, which helps support emerging missile modes and threats.
A second contract has also been signed between Thales and the Danish DALO for sustainment support of the CWI transmitters until 2049.
