
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The French defence ministry's integrated structure for through-life support of land forces equipment (SIMMT1) has awarded Thales the ABSOLU2 operational support and logistics contract.
In terms of its scale and format, the ten-year contract is the first of its kind for the French armed forces and will ultimately consolidate some 30 separate support contracts for land-based equipment and Thales simulation support in service with the French Army, Navy and Air & Space Force.
This flagship agreement addresses the need to prepare the forces for high-intensity conflicts, while helping to promote sustainable resource management.
ABSOLU will consolidate some 30 separate maintenance contracts into a single agreement to simplify contract management and significantly improve operational performance. Its shared project management model will shorten repair turnaround times to increase equipment availability, as well as expanding the re-use of components and raw materials to support the development of a circular economy.
Under the terms of this single framework contract for maintenance services, Thales also undertakes to double its equipment handling capacity in the event of a high-intensity conflict. Until now, SIMMT has awarded a separate maintenance contract for each platform.
The pioneering new format will revolutionise the strategic partnership between Thales and the French forces and deliver significant efficiency gains for the end customer. To guarantee this level of service, the Group has put new processes in place and developed a comprehensive roadmap for the ramp-up of its support delivery capacity:
creation of a joint management platform for shorter decision and repair cycles
inventory consolidation and constitution of reserve stocks in two distinct locations
use of data science for continuous monitoring of support delivery performance, predictive material and resource planning, and proactive decision-making in coordination with government customers.
The shift towards a circular economy is another important aspect of the ABSOLU contract. Thales is developing new ways of re-using materials and components to extend equipment lifetimes and enhance mission readiness, especially in high-intensity conflicts where equipment takes a heavy toll. As part of this approach, critical components (circuit boards, electronic equipment) and raw materials will also be sorted and recycled to help address environmental issues and ease supply chain tensions.
SIMMT will leverage Thaless expertise and agility to support deployed forces more effectively than ever before. The new contract includes an undertaking by Thales to reduce repair times by 30% and will significantly increase the operational readiness of the equipment in service with the armed forces, said Christophe Salomon, Executive Vice-President, Secure Communications and Information Systems, Thales.
The initial scope of the ABSOLU contract includes maintenance of PR4G fourth-generation radio sets, MELCHIOR long-range HF communication systems and ground stations developed under the ASTRIDE3 2 programme, all of which enable the French armed forces to command expeditionary forces autonomously and act as a framework nation in coalition operations. Ultimately, the contract will encompass all SIMMT maintenance programmes for Thales equipment and simulation equipment.
1 SIMMT: Integrated structure for through-life support of land forces equipment
2 ABSOLU: End-to-end adaptation of operational support and harmonised logistics for Thales land-based systems
3 ASTRIDE: Access via satellite and radio transmissions to battlespace area network and intranet
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.
The Group invests more than 4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.
Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of 20.6 billion.
Contact
Thales Media Relations
Contact our Media Relations team
27 Mar 2025
Thales Alenia Space signs contract with ESA to develop an agricultural digital twin component for sustainable, resilient agriculture
Read more
26 Mar 2025
The ImaSpiiR-X consortium receives support from France 2030 to improve the management of cancer and cardiovascular diseases through medical imaging
Read more
21 Mar 2025
Thales celebrates opening of new avionics MRO centre in Gurugram, India
Read more
More from Thales
27/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
SaveCrops4EU leverages Earth observation and adv...
26/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The French defence ministry's integrated str...
26/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
France 2030 has announced its support for the Im...
21/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The new Thales MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) facility in Gurugram is strategically located near the Delhi airport in Indi...
20/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Under the European Defence Fund (EDF), Thales is to coordinate the EISNET (European Interactive Sensor-Based Dynamic Defence Net...
19/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Under an agreement signed by Thales and Naval Gr...
17/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales and Malaysia Airlines have signed a long-...
14/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales has reached a historic milestone by deliv...
13/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
By combining T-Mobile's robust network, Thal...
12/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Moonlight: ESA program to create a satellite con...
12/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
In 2025, Thales ranks among the top 0.01% of the...
11/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales today announced that it has delivered the...
10/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thaless Modem21 system typically equips sovereig...
10/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tokyo / Cannes, March 10 2025 - Asia's large...
06/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The CSO system comprises three defense and security satellites
This trio has two distinct missions: reconnaissance for CSO-1 an...
06/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
EOLO partners with Thales to bring ultrafast broadband to underserved Italian communities.
Thales eSIM solution enables seamle...
05/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Ericsson, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and Thale...
04/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Order intake: 25.3 billion, up 9% ( 6% on an organic basis1)
Sales: 20.6 billion, up 11.7% ( 8.3% on an organic basis)
Adjus...
03/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
SHIFT, the German pioneer in sustainable and ethical handset manufacturing, has partnered with Thales, a global leader in advanc...
03/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
On the occasion of IDEX-NAVDEX 2025, EARTH, an e...
03/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales subsidiary, Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI), has been awarded a contract for Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)...
28/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Munich, Germany - February 28, 2025 - A signific...
27/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Cubic, a leading global provider of software-def...
27/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, a world leader in cybersecurity for crit...
25/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales marks a new major milestone in its global acceleration in trusted AI with the launch of cortAIx in the UK to address defe...
24/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, a global technology leader in the defenc...
20/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
February 18, 2025 - Abu Dhabi, UAE: Milrem Robot...
18/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales and Sopra Steria form a strategic partner...
18/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
This new contract covers over 300,000 cards annu...
14/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
New solution allows Enterprises to accelerate an...
14/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales Alenia Space will develop the world's...
13/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, in collaboration with the airline Amelia...
12/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Bengaluru, India, 12 February 2025: In line with...
12/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has awarded Thales in the UK a major contract to maintain the Royal Navy's internal and e...
11/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will pr...
10/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales has delivered the first drone system for ...
10/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales At a time when much is expected of AI and its contribution to the security and sovereignty of nations, Thales offers a ...
10/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Cannes, February 10th, 2025 - Space Norway, Northern Europe's leading satellite operator, and Thales Alenia Space, a joint v...
06/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
With this first satellite supply contract, NIBE ...
06/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, a global leader in advance technologies,...
05/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales' Board of Directors (Euronext Paris: HO) which met on February 4, 2025, coopted as a Board member Val rie Guillemet, ...
04/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales Alenia Space strengthens its cooperation with the UAE as a key partner in future space missions
Cannes, February 4th, 20...
03/02/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Increased sophistication of attacks and growing threats to businesses: Key cybersecurity trends for 2025:
Targeted ransomware a...
31/01/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales will be present at Aero India 2025 (3.3 i...
30/01/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales has signed a contract with the French def...
30/01/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The lander will fly to the Moon and land on its ...
30/01/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Starting in the second half of this year, SpainSat NG I will provide services to Spain's Armed Forces, international organiz...
29/01/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales Sentinel protects Eyedea technologies bas...
29/01/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales Enrollment Kiosks for credential issuance...
28/01/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the European Space Agency to build the EnVision spacecraft that will unveil Venus...