New System Testing Centre for F126 project officially opened

On 23 April, we reached a major milestone in the F126 project in Hengelo. The German Navy, German military procurement agency BAAINBw, we, and other F126 project partners inaugurated the ‘extended Thales Testing Centre'. This building is a system testing and integration facility dedicated to this extraordinary and big project! In this facility, project partners and the BAAINBw work together with the German Navy

Last year, we doubled our production capabilities by expanding our testing and integration facilities. We achieved this through the Smart – Z project, for which we transformed our ITC (former Z) and build the STC. This experience enabled us to quickly and efficiently deliver an important milestone in the F126 project: a system testing and integration facility.

This extended Testing Center symbolises the heart of the F126 project. It also symbolises our major strength: the unique partnership between suppliers and customer, across disciplines and borders. Special about the eTTS is that it will not only be used by Thales, but especially our partners and the client, will use the building intensively. It is a true collaborative environment. Gerben Edelijn

Collaborating, testing, and integrating

The ‘extended Thales Testing Centre’ functions as a collaboration hub for various project partners, for whom the facility offers a physical environment to collaborate, innovate, and co-create solutions that address the customer’s needs. With this collaboration space, we can boost our in-project collaboration and work more closely with our partners and customer.

Additionally, the system testing and integration takes place in this facility. The building is equipped with multiple testing positions for the ships’ sensors and other hardware. Furthermore, the integration of the mission system into Combat Management System TACTICOS, is validated here.

Created through collaboration

The delivery of this project milestone was celebrated with a festive building opening in Hengelo in the presence of various projects partners, including a broad representation from the German Navy and BAAINBw. From design to construction and opening, the ‘extended Thales Testing Centre’ is a real co-creation by the German Navy, BAAINBw, Damen, Dura Vermeer and of course Thales.