Thales selected by NATO Support & Procurement agency to deliver next-generation deployable TACAN system to the Spanish Air & Space Force
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded Thales a significant contract to supply a next-generation Deployable Tactical Air Navigation (D-TACAN) system for the Spanish Air & Space Force. This advanced system is designed to enhance air navigation capabilities, facilitating both safe approach and landing operations at various airfield types.
Manufactured at Thales’s Gorgonzola (Milan) facility, which is the sole TACAN navigation aid production site within the European Union, the D-TACAN system embodies a robust, cyber-resilient solution that offers critical operational capabilities.
Thales’s TACAN technology was selected to meet the stringent standards required for key Aeronautical Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) tasks. The D-TACAN system will support NATO’s air operations, ensuring resilient and secure navigation even in GNSS-challenged environments.
This system is based on Thales’s latest-generation Ground Based TACAN 553 model, providing a fully autonomous and quickly deployable navigation option. Its transportable nature by air, sea, rail, or road makes it an ideal fit for diverse military operations. Furthermore, it aims to bolster operational flexibility, efficiency, and cyber resilience for the Spanish Air & Space Force.
In addition to enhancing Spain’s military capabilities, the project allows for other NATO member states and entities to procure D-TACAN systems through the NSPA framework, promoting interoperability among allied forces.
Housed within a 20-foot ISO shelter, the D-TACAN system is optimized for around-the-clock operations in challenging conditions, featuring essential operational equipment like power generation systems and communications capabilities for quick deployment.
The integrated logistics support package provided with this contract includes spare parts, training, and documentation, ensuring the system’s sustainability and operational readiness throughout its lifecycle.
“Through this contract, NSPA is enabling the Spanish Air & Space Force to rapidly acquire a critical air navigation capability while benefiting from the Agency’s proven procurement and technical expertise,” commented Juan Tarazona, Communications, Air and Missile Defence Programme Manager at NSPA.
“This contract demonstrates Thales’ ability to deliver sovereign, cyber-resilient and mission-ready navigation solutions that strengthen Europe’s defence capabilities,” stated Jesús Sanchez-Bargos, Vice-President Iberia & Türkiye and CEO Spain, Thales.
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies focused on Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors, investing €4.5 billion annually in Research & Development, particularly in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and Cloud technologies.
With over 85,000 employees in 65 countries, Thales reported sales of €22.1 billion in 2025.
About Thales in Spain
Thales has had a significant industrial presence in Spain for over 50 years and employs over 1,300 people, primarily engineers, engaged in the defence, space, cybersecurity, and digital security sectors.
Source: Thales Group (2026-07-31 08:00:03)
