Thales and French defence ministry establish logistic support platform

A joint logistic support platform has been established in Nouâtre in central France for the French land forces equipment maintenance.

Located at the 14th equipment support base (BSMAT), the new platform is part of the Maintenance en Condition Opérationnelle – Terre (MCO-Terre) 2025 land forces through-life support transformation plan.

The joint logistic support platform is set up by the land forces industrial maintenance service (SIMTER) and Thales. It aims to increase the French Armed Forces’ overall performance.

It is designed to improve workflows and management processes and strengthen equipment availability at optimum cost.

In June, a partnership alliance was entered by the French defence ministry’s integrated through-life support structure for land forces equipment and systems (SIMMT) and Thales.

The partnership between the parties includes Thales to provide technological, digital and organisational expertise to SIMMT.

Under the partnership, the company and other French industry partners will carry out at least 40% of all maintenance activities.

Thales secure communications and information systems customer support and services activities vice-president Florence Gourgeon said: “With the new organisation and secure access to innovative services, the armed forces are stepping up to the challenges of the digital transformation to offer a customised support solution for operational units.

“The joint support management platform ensures that high-value systems are available at the right time and in the right place so that the French Land Forces can conduct their decisive missions effectively and efficiently.”

The French defence ministry’s MCO-Terre 2025 aims to improve the availability of defence systems for the country’s armed forces in complex environments, especially through the development of new digital services.