Thales and UCS to Modernise Royal Thai Navy’s Flagship Carrier with Advanced Integrated Platform Management System

Thales and UCS to Modernise Royal Thai Navy’s Flagship Carrier with Advanced Integrated Platform Management System

(IN BRIEF) Thales and Universal Communication Systems Co. Ltd. (UCS) have signed a contract to equip the Royal Thai Navy’s HTMS Chakri Naruebet with an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), modernising Southeast Asia’s only aircraft carrier. The IPMS will serve as a central operational hub, integrating combat, navigation, and mechanical systems with real-time monitoring and automation. The collaboration, announced at Defense & Security 2025, extends Thales’s 55-year partnership with the RTN, which already uses Thales technology on over 80% of its fleet. The agreement also includes a technology transfer to UCS, strengthening Thailand’s defence capabilities and self-sufficiency in line with its “Thailand 4.0” development goals.

(PRESS RELEASE) LA DÉFENSE, 12-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Thales, in partnership with Universal Communication Systems Co. Ltd. (UCS), has signed a contract to deliver an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for the HTMS Chakri Naruebet, the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) 28-year-old aircraft carrier and the first and only carrier in Southeast Asia. This landmark upgrade aims to enhance the vessel’s operational efficiency, safety, and long-term sustainability, marking the first IPMS solution for the Royal Thai Navy.

The agreement was officially announced during the opening day of Defense & Security 2025 in Bangkok, representing a major milestone in the long-standing collaboration between Thales and the RTN, which spans more than 55 years. Today, over 80% of the RTN fleet is equipped with Thales systems, including radars, sonars, mine-hunting equipment, and advanced Command & Control (C2) technologies.

The new IPMS will serve as the central operational nerve center of HTMS Chakri Naruebet, integrating its combat, navigation, and damage control systems under a single, user-friendly platform. The system will enable real-time monitoring, automated operations, and decision-support capabilities that allow crew members to respond swiftly and effectively to complex maritime situations. The modular design of the IPMS also makes it adaptable to the specific requirements and size of Thailand’s flagship vessel.

“Modernising the flagship vessel of the RTN is no easy task, and we are grateful for the trust in Thales to bring this long-awaited project forward,” said Nicolas Bernardin, Country Director, Thales in Thailand. “The IPMS will enhance the operational capability of this significant platform and marks a new chapter of partnership between Thales and UCS. With our deep understanding of the operational needs of the RTN, coupled with the technical expertise of our teams, I am proud that our solution will help contribute to Thailand’s maritime sovereignty.”

Supich Ansvananda, Managing Director of UCS, added: “As a designated Key Industrial Partner of Thales in Thailand, UCS will receive a comprehensive transfer of technological expertise in IPMS systems. This will enable UCS to perform effective in-country maintenance and through-life support for the system following its delivery to the Royal Thai Navy. The initiative is a significant step in strengthening Thailand’s defence industrial base and boosting the RTN’s long-term self-reliance.”

The Thales-UCS partnership brings together an international team of experts combining Thales’s extensive experience in ship automation and systems integration with UCS’s deep understanding of local operational needs. The project also reflects Thales’s commitment to advancing Thailand’s “Thailand 4.0” national growth strategy by supporting domestic industry, developing local talent, and contributing to defence self-sufficiency.

Thales has been a trusted partner to Thailand for more than five decades, with operations spanning Aerospace, Defence, Cybersecurity, and Digital Identity. Headquartered in Bangkok, the company continues to deliver innovative solutions that improve national security, safety, and digital resilience across multiple sectors.

About Thales in Thailand

Thales has been present in Thailand for over 55 years and is involved today in the Aerospace & Space, Defence, Cyber & Digital sectors. Headquartered in Bangkok, Thales has a strong historical presence in defence, working in close collaboration with key local industrial partners, while also delivering advanced aerospace and security solutions for airports and airlines, and playing a significant role in the daily lives of Thai citizens with biometric passports, advanced banking and payment services with cards to Thai banks, financial institutions, transit authorities and operators. Thales supports Thailand’s national growth strategy, including “Thailand 4.0” by enhancing security, safety, economic growth and developing local talent.

About Universal Communication Systems

Universal Communication Systems Co., Ltd., (UCS) provides customers with integrated ICT infrastructure solutions. Their services include consultancy and planning so as to make use of right technologies for specific purposes creating maximum efficiency, quality design and installation by experienced staffs, as well as project management that guarantee punctuality and fixed cost, including reliable after-sale service for long-term system maintenance.

Media Relations

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https://lp.thalesgroup.com/contact_us_journalists

SOURCE: Thales