BACKGROUND: The U.S. Navy’s AVENGER-Class Mine Countermeasure Ships (MCM-1) had a critical space and weight issue. The Navy approached Thales Communications to develop a solution for a state-of-the-art HF communications system that would improve performance over their legacy systems, while also reducing weight and minimizing space requirements. Additionally, the new upgrade needed to comply with stringent naval requirements on environmental, vibration, and heavyweight shock.

SOLUTION: In 2004, Thales was awarded a 5-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract to modernize communications aboard the MCM-1 Minesweepers with the Thales AN/URC-143, single-rack HF system. The AN/URC-143 HF radio suite is a state-of-the-art system specifically suited to small-to-medium ship applications.