PMA-213, Thales restore TACAN fleet readiness through performance-to-plan framework

PORTFOLIO ACQUISITION EXECUTIVE (AVIATION), Patuxent River, Md.— Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) system production is stabilizing under a joint initiative between the U.S. Navy and Thales USA Inc., eliminating production bottlenecks and securing long-term fleet readiness across Navy and interagency platforms. A collaborative performance-to-plan (P2P) strategy, developed by the Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program Office (PMA-213), optimizes program execution. This strategy resolves supply chain disruptions and eliminates maintenance bottlenecks that arose during the integration of key navigation aids supplier lines. TACAN systems—primarily the AN/URN-32 and AN/URN-33 systems—serve as vital navigational beacons for naval aviators. Transmitting critical direction and distance data, the systems guide aircraft safely through adverse weather, night operations and degraded environments back to ships and shore installations.

Supply chain bottlenecks and corporate transition barriers previously led to a delivery deficit in critical High-Power Amplifiers (HPA), challenging fleet readiness. To sustain continuity, PMA-213 and Thales implemented a data-driven P2P strategy, partnering directly with Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) and the U.S. Coast Guard to orchestrate a multipronged recovery plan.

• Using a tiered hardware strategy, program engineers reallocated Series 1 HPAs from land-based sites to immediately replenish operational fleet requirements at sea, while outfitting new-construction hulls with modern, next-generation Series 2 configurations.

• Thales expanded throughput at its facility by investing in dedicated test benches and specialized personnel to accelerate repairs.

• The engineering team fielded targeted software updates to align user interfaces across both hardware generations while streamlining data requirements to lower long-term sustainment costs.

"By moving away from traditional contracting to a rigorous P2P framework, we turned transparent data into decisive action," said Capt. Walter B. Massenburg Jr., PMA-213 program manager. "Thales worked directly with the government to address structural production and repair challenges, resolving hurdles and accelerating deliveries to our fleet and interagency partners."

The recovery drew on an enterprise-wide coalition across the naval aviation and maritime infrastructure, including NAVSUP, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field and the Coast Guard.

“Our partnership is built on a shared commitment to warfighter readiness," said Sonu Goel, Thales vice president. "By resolving supply chain challenges, investing in dedicated production capacity and aligning our software and hardware, we are strengthening the resilience of the TACAN system to support the fleet and joint partners.”

With production lead times normalized and maintenance backlogs cleared, the metrics-driven P2P framework deployed by PMA-213 and Thales serves as an acquisition and sustainment blueprint for managing complex defense industrial base transitions.

About PMA-213 The Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program Office (PMA-213) leads the acquisition, development and life-cycle sustainment of air traffic management, shipboard landing and expeditionary air traffic control systems. PMA-213 equips Navy, Marine Corps and allied forces with reliable, secure and interoperable systems that ensure safe flight operations in all operating environments.

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