In a connected, mobile world, naval personnel want to use their smartphones at sea without compromising security. Responding to this requirement, Thales has developed COMTICS, which is claimed to be the first shipboard information distribution system of its kind. Intuitive, resilient and designed for mobility, COMTICS offers an expansive array of operational services in a highly secure environment.
COMTICS is a multimedia communication device resembling a smartphone that allows naval personnel permanent shipboard mobility and connectivity with all types of military radios. It provides services ranging from video and data transfers to web browsing and social media, if the operational situation allows, and the ability to chat with colleagues.
Thales has designed COMTICS on the basis of its Naval Voice Over IP (NGIN) and Fiber Optical Communication Network (FOCON) IP solutions, which are fully proven at sea and have been adopted by 15 navies to date.
The system offers the highest level of IT protection, tailored to the specific requirements of each customer and drawing on Thales’s combination of cybersecurity expertise and in-depth understanding of the naval environment. To ensure service availability even in the event of combat damage, COMTICS is built on a redundant all-IP architecture to ensure continuity of operations.
The system can support up to 3,000 simultaneous calls. It is robust, dependable, ruggedized to withstand the rigors of the naval environment and scalable to all types and sizes of vessels. It is quick to learn and easy to use, thanks to an intuitive interface, and the entire set-up can be installed in a matter of weeks as part of a legacy system upgrade.
Christophe Dumas, VP Radiocommunication Products, Thales commented, “With COMTICS, Thales is helping improve quality of life for naval personnel at sea. It’s a resolutely future-focused solution that meets all the operational, security and reputational challenges faced by navies today.”
By delivering key new applications and services for naval personnel, the system allows greater mobility on board the vessel, supporting changes in the way communication devices are used and driving greater operational efficiency.