By courtesy of the Schelde Naval Shipbuilding
INTEGRATED MODULAR MAST
What is the Integrated Modular Mast?
The Integrated Modular Mast (IMM) is an advanced
mechanical mast structure for modern and future naval
ships. It provides the infrastructure for sensors and
communication systems. The IMM comprises a set of
equipment, referred to as auxiliaries, required for safety,
maintenance, navigation, etc.
The mechanical structure creates a protected and
conditioned environment that enables easy access and
maintenance.
The mission
Naval platforms with traditional topsides often
have more than 100 antennas for surveillance,
communications, fire control and navigation. As the
need for communication is increasing, the number
of antennas will increase even further. The antennas
compete for the best place on deck but, in fact, limit
each other’s performance.
Below deck, traditional antenna arrangements require
expensive cabling infrastructures and a lot of valuable
space to house the various processing cabinets.
Traditional equipment arrangements, with myriad
antennas on deck, significantly increase the time and
costs to build naval ships. Apart from several iterations
to find suitable antenna arrangements, shipyards have to
www.thalesgroup.com
negotiate with several equipment suppliers about power supplies,
deck structures, electrical interfaces, cabling, cooling, etc. The
ship’s design is not finished until all equipment interfaces have
been agreed upon.
The Integrated Modular Mast configurates the antennas in such
a manner that physical and electro-magnetic interferences are
prevented. It houses all processing cabinets, not only yielding
an enormous saving of below-deck space, but eliminating all
problems caused by the many radars and other antennas on
board most naval ships.
The benefits
• Performance
- Free panoramic coverage
- Minimal electro-magnetic interference
- Reduced radar signatures
• Reduction of the complexity
- Flexibility, e.g. possibility to use various types of sensors
- Minimal subsystems-ship interface
• Protection of equipment against environmentals (e.g. weather
influences)
- Maintenance in sheltered environment
- Facilitate the use of COTS
 INTEGRATED MODULAR MAST
INTEGRATED MODULAR
MAST

Features Development
The Royal Netherlands Navy has commenced to build advanced
• Protected environment for all sensors Ocean Patrol Vessels. These flexible, high-performance vessels
• Easy maintenance will have long-endurance capabilities and will be deployed for

©THALES NEDERLAND B.V. and/or its suppliers. This information carrier contains proprietary information which shall not
be used, reproduced or disclosed to third parties without prior written authorization by THALES NEDERLAND B.V. and/or
• Contributes to reduced-manning concept tasks such as embargo operations, drugs patrolling, and
• Better accessibility humanitarian missions. The Integrated Modular Mast concept,

its suppliers, as applicable.Data on this sheet may be subject to change without notification. DS.092/01/08/H
• EMC protection with its specific set of sensors, is essential for the patrol
vessels.

Installation
The interface between mast and ship is simple: location,
weight, footprint, cooling, power and cabling interfaces have
to be agreed upon for the mast only. The mast, with all its
equipment, and the ship can be produced independent from
each other as soon as these interfaces have been agreed
upon.

ADDRESS
THALES NEDERLAND
P.O. Box 42
7550 GD HENGELO
THE NETHERLANDS
Phone : +31 74 248 81 11
Fax : +31 74 242 59 36

THALES
Parc Tertiaire SILIC 3,
Avenue Charles Lindbergh - BP 20351
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Phone : +33 1 79 61 40 00
Fax : +33 1 79 61 11 78

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