Euronaval: Thales unveils new compact sonars
Thales announced at Euronaval on 27 October that it has introduced a range of new compact sonars to meet the underwater threat detection and deterrence requirements of smaller vessels.
The sonars - which include a hull-mounted sonar called the Thales BlueWatcher, and an associated towed array sonar called the Captas-1 - have been introduced in response to growing demand as nations expand their fleets of patrol vessels and corvettes to defend their sovereign interests in territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones.
The compact and modular sonars will equip surface combatants and patrol vessels displacing 300 tonnes or more, providing an initial Anti-Submarine Warfare capability for low-intensity missions.
The Thales BlueWatcher is a compact hull-mounted plug-and-play sonar based on the same technology as the FLASH dipping sonar for helicopters in service with the US Navy, the UK Royal Navy and the French Navy.
As the latest addition to the Captas family, Captas-1 has a single ceramic ring configuration, and uses the same technological building blocks as the Captas-2 and Captas-4 low-frequency variable-depth sonars in service with several NATO countries. The lightweight Captas-1 has an all-electric reeling system for ease of deployment from smaller vessels.
The new offerings will enable vessels of all types to carrying sonar systems – previously only carried by front-line warships deployed as part of a larger naval or carrier group on anti-submarine warfare missions.
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy takes delivery of New Jersey SSN
The USN’s Virginia-class SSNs are replacing the old Los Angeles-class SSNs. The Virginia-class SSNs are fitted with the latest sensors and weapons and around 48 submarines are planned, with a total of 38 currently ordered.
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.