Thales Systèmes Aéroportés (TSA), France

 

Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of €12.9 billion with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.

 

Thales Systèmes Aéroportés, which is part of the Thales Group, is the European leader and ranks third worldwide in the market for airborne and naval defence mission systems and equipment. The company designs, develops and manufactures technologically innovative systems and equipment for combat aircraft, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), special-mission aircraft, helicopters and naval platforms, and provides a complete range of through-life support services.

Drawing on advanced collaborative tools, Thales works with its customers from the earliest stages in the development of its systems and subsystems to ensure the deployment of optimal solutions. Among its different activities Thales Systèmes Aéroportés develops flexible, innovative, high-performance solutions for maritime patrol and surveillance, ground, air and satellite surveillance, and electronic intelligence gathering. Drawing on the latest technologies and its extensive experience as both systems integrator and prime contractor, Thales Systèmes Aéroportés has built solid partnerships with the armed forces of numerous countries around the world. For example, the company is providing 19 maritime patrol/surveillance systems for the Turkish Navy and Coast Guard under the Meltem program, the largest maritime surveillance program in Europe. Thales Systèmes Aéroportés applies the same technology expertise to surveillance radars for special-mission aircraft including Falcon 50, ATL 2, ATR 72, Beechcraft 200 and EADS CASA 235 for maritime support and surveillance, as well as for helicopters such as the NH 90.

 

Role in the SMARTPOWER project

As an Aeronautic Radar equipment designer and manufacturer, THALES Systèmes Aéroportés is able to express all operational requirements and specifications for the developed high power RF modules. Being also MMIC designer, THALES Systèmes Aéroportés knows typical semiconductor design weaknesses that have to be taken into account.

Moreover, due to its packaging & interconnection expertise, THALES Systèmes Aéroportés has the necessary knowledge to manage the electrical design of the packages and to validate its performance. The following key persons will be involved in the proposed SMARTPOWER Integrated Project project for THALES Systèmes Aéroportés :

 

Mr. Philippe Kertesz is Research and development Programs Manager at Thales Systèmes Aéroportés He graduated in 1986 in Materials Engineering from the ENSCT (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Toulouse). He joined in 1993 the Technological Department of the DASSAULT Electronique Company that merged with THOMSON-CSF RCM in 1999, to create, since 2001, the THALES Airborne Systems company. His main domain of expertise is Packaging and interconnection (15 years of practise), with focus on Microelectronics (die bonding techniques/ TAB/ thin films-thick films technologies/ Packaging), Printed Circuit Boards (standard manufacture techniques, build-up technologies…) and Surface mount Technology (PBGA, CBGA…). He has managed internal Research and Development Projects, but also European projects. He has been the coordinator of the following projects: “MIFAD” project (Brite Euram II 5849 “Micropackaging and Interconnection for Flat panel Displays”), the Astral project (Brite Euram III BRPR-CT98-0683 “Development of Adaptive Solder Technology for Reliability and Environment Compatibility of Electronic Assemblies”) and the EUREKA PIDEA “MICROSM” project (Industrial line for low cost surface mount microwave packaging (1 to 20 GHz)) and EUREKA PIDEA+ HIFAP HIgh Frequency Advanced 3 D Packaging (1 to 40 GHz). Philippe KERTESZ will be the packaging contact for the SMARTPOWER project.

Ms Julie Mazeau received the Master’s degree in high-frequency and optical telecommunications from the University of Limoges, Limoges, France, in 2003, and the Ph.D. degree about "electrothermal system level model of power amplifiers for radar applications" at the Research Institute XLIM, University of Limoges in collaboration with THALES Airborne Systems, Elancourt, France, in 2007. She joined the advanced technologies team at THALES Airborne Systems, Elancourt, France. She is in charge of microwave modelling and design for active antenna T/R modules and will manage all the electrical design work required for the SMARTPOWER project with the people from INFINEON.

 

Mr Franck Vouzelaud has graduated from Arts et Métiers ParisTech in 1990 and Clemson University – South Carolina in 1993 with a MSc in Mechanical Engineer. He has started his professional career working for Matra Automobile on the Espace vehicle as a development engineer specialized in engine cooling and then responsible for HVAC systems until 2000. He then joined Visteon Corporation when the company became independent from Ford Motor Corporation in July 2000, as Climate Control Engineer responsible for French OEM innovation projects. He then became program manager for a French climate control programs in relation with PSA and Renault and Visteon production & development centers in Czech Republic and Germany. He joined the aerospace industry in November 2008 and became Senior Thermal Expert at Thales – Division Mission System on radar systems. He will be the thermal development work contact for the SMARTPOWER Project.