Thales has been awarded a contract by the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization for the delivery of 14, continuous wave illumination (CWI) transmitters that will be integrated in the current Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) fire control systems on-board the Absalon and Iver Huitfeldt class vessels of the Royal Danish Navy.
The CWI transmitter is one of the key components in the fire control chain, providing an X-Band signal to illuminate the threat and allow the ESSM to home in on the reflected signal. ESSM is a medium-range, surface-to-air U.S. missile.
Thales’s CWI transmitter utilizes state-of-the-art GaN technology with a proven missile waveform generator (MWFG) to provide unrivalled performance. The design is scalable to support emerging missile modes and threats.
“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,” said Geert van der Molen, surface radar and above water systems VP at Thales in the Netherlands.
The first delivery will be in mid-2019, and the last system will be delivered in 2021. A second contract was signed for Thales to support the CWI systems until 2049.