Thales has been selected to supply a sonar suite for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s upcoming Orka-class submarines, which are part of the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability (RNSC) programme.
It will supply the sonar suit under an agreement signed with Naval Group.
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The Orka-class submarines, as part of the Barracuda family, are set to replace the existing Walrus-class fleet.
In 2019, Royal IHC and Naval Group established a partnership aimed at the Netherlands submarine replacement project.
The latest sonar suite will include bow, flank, and obstacle-avoidance sonars, an intercept array, a passive towed-array sonar, an underwater voice communication system, an echo-sounder, and signal processing racks.
Thales Underwater Systems vice president Sébastien Guérémy said: “We are proud that Thales’s advanced sonar suite has been selected to equip the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Orka-class submarines.
“This partnership will enhance the technological superiority of the Dutch armed forces, and reflects our ongoing commitment to providing innovative, dependable solutions in support of the defence capabilities of allied nations.”
The integrated suite will offer a panoramic view of the underwater environment, enabling the detection, location, and classification of threats across various ranges and frequencies.
The contract is expected to ensure operational superiority for the Netherlands as well as align with the Dutch government’s policy to support strategic national industries.
Naval Group RNSC Programme director Sylvain Perrier said: “The highly capable Thales sonar suite was a key component of Naval Group’s bid for this programme, and will make a significant contribution to the acoustic superiority of the Orka-class submarines.
“We know we can count on Thales to meet the demanding requirements of the COMMIT3 and to work hand in hand with Dutch industry on the RNSC programme.”
In 2024, the contract for constructing four Orka-class submarines was confirmed, following the Industrial Cooperation Agreement between Naval Group and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
