UK carriers worth over 400 mln euros to Thales

PARIS May 20 (Reuters) - Thales (TCFP.PA) welcomed a British decision to go ahead with two new aircraft carriers on Tuesday and said the contract would be worth well over than 400 million euros to the French electronics group.

The British defence ministry said earlier it would sign a long-awaited 4 billion pound ($7.8 billion) deal to build the two carriers, which will be the Royal Navy's largest ever ships.

Thales designed the vessels which will be built by a consortium led by a joint venture between BAE Systems (BAES.L) and VT Group VTG.L.

"We are delighted with the decision which has been taken today. We have been working on the programme since the very beginning and the design which has been processed so far is a Thales design," Chief Executive Denis Ranque told Reuters.

Asked about the value of the work to Thales, he said, "Depending on some adjustments, it is well in excess of 400 million euros, not including services, over the construction phase."

The ships are due to enter service in 2014 and 2016.

The French company is responsible for the design, the propulsion and aviation systems and a "large part" of the mission system together with BAE Systems, Ranque said.

Thales is also involved in a French project to build one new aircraft carrier which is waiting for final approval from President Nicolas Sarkozy. Britain and France agreed to co-operate on the layout of the combined three ships but the building work is expected to be carried out in national yards.

A final decision on whether to build the aircraft carrier, providing France with a second platform alonghside the Charles de Gaulle, is expected in June as part of a defence review.