Thales Underwater Systems

Building on more than 40 years of experience in undersea warfare, Thales is a global leader in underwater systems and the world’s top exporter of sonars and related systems for naval forces.

Thales creates a large range of systems for anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures. The group’s expertise spans the entire spectrum of sonar technologies, from acoustics, electronics, signal processing and mechanical engineering to data fusion, as well as single or multi-platform operating systems.

Anti-submarine warfare – surface ships

For surface combatants, Thales brings a large experience in active low-frequency variable depth sonars and hull mounted sonars. Recent successes include the FREMM European multi-mission frigates and the second phase of the UK 2087 Programme for two T23 frigates.

Submarine systems for anti-submarine warfare

The Thales submarine offering comprises a full range of acoustic and non-acoustic sensors to provide conventional or nuclear-powered submarines with outstanding detection and ISR capacity.

CAPTAS (combined active / passive towed array sonar) is a family of low-frequency, variable depth ASW sonars for surface ships.

S-CUBE enables permanent safety of the platform while providing cutting-edge passive performance in deep or littoral waters, to detect, classify, locate and track at long range extremely quiet targets.

FLASH is a low-frequency, wide band dipping sonar for helicopters and unmanned surface vehicles providing long-range detection and submarine prosecution in deep and shallow waters.

T-SAS (towed synthetic aperture sonar) is a high-resolution towed side scan sonar for detection and classification of short tethered moored and bottom mines.

Thales’ SAS (synthetic aperture sonar) boasts system autonomy, meaning it has the capability to make onboard decisions and as such address the challenge of underwater communications.

The latest references comprise the UMS 3000 integrated sonar system for French Navy Barracuda nuclear-powered attack submarine, the 2076 sonar suite and CM010 non-hull penetrating optronic mast for UK Astute Class, as well as S-Cube sonar suite for India Scorpene or for a South American Navy’s 209 type submarine refit.

Airborne acoustic systems for anti-submarine warfare

Building on decades of expertise in airborne acoustic systems for both anti-submarine helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, Thales has established an unrivalled depth of experience in active dipping sonar, advanced sonobuoys processing and high performance active and passive sonobuoys.

The US Navy chose the worldwide N°1 dipping sonar FLASH for its MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. The Royal Navy chose sonar FLASH for its Merlins and the United Arab Emirate for its Naval Cougars. France, Norway and Sweden have also chosen FLASH and FLASH-S for their NFH90s. The dipping sonar has also been successfully adapted to SPARTAN unmanned surface vehicle.

Mine warfare systems and mine countermeasures

As integrator of over half the world’s in-service fleet of mine hunters, Thales covers the full spectrum for mine countermeasures including minehunting and mine avoidance sonars, influence sweeps, tactical systems and multi-influence measurement stations.

Thales leads large-scale mine countermeasure programmes and assumes total responsibility for the chosen solution, from prime contracting and system engineering through to shipboard installation and at-sea qualification, in addition to equipment and combat system integration.

Unmanned vehicles with UXV-based military capabilities

Thales is a supplier of UXV sensors, but also a prime contractor for UXV-based military capabilities, either as stand-alone capabilities or integrated with the vessel combat system or networked system of the broader naval force.