Airbus Defense and Space won a $500 million contract this week to improve and upgrade French naval vessels’ communication systems.

PARIS - Airbus Defence and Space, together with Naval Group, won a contract worth as much as €480 million (US$504 million) to upgrade the communications system of the French Navy to prepare for collaborative and networked combat.

European planemaker and aerospace company Airbus said on Tuesday it will build the communications network for the French air and naval force under a contract with a maximum value of 480 million euros ($502.