Thales prepares to double equipment handling capacity as part of defence ministry deal

France's Thales is preparing to double its equipment handling capacity in case of a high-intensity conflict, as part of a new contract with the French state, the aerospace and defence company said on Wednesday.

The company said it had won a 10-year contract with the French defence ministry for operational support and logistics, under which it would consolidate some 30 support contracts with the country's army, navy, and air and space force.

"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," said Thales.

"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."

(Reporting by Alessandro Parodi, editing by Milla Nissi)