Thales’ Goalkeeper completes sea acceptance trials
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s first updated Goalkeeper close-in weapon system has successfully completed its sea acceptance trials, Thales announced on 20 March.
Trials were performed on HNLMS Johan de Witt, the second landing platform dock vessel of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The testing with air targets included detection, tracking and elimination of Qinetiq Banshee propeller and jet UAS with traditional and modern inbound attack flight paths. The same procedure was carried out with Qinetiq Sprite II USV surface targets.
Thales received the Goalkeeper upkeep modification contract in 2012. The upkeep modifications consist of new algorithms and electro-optic tracking capabilities that will enable Goalkeeper to deal with evolving threats, including modern, evasive manoeuvring air threats with a complex trajectory.
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