Thales nets £169 million contract for Dreadnought submarine masts
A rendering of the future Dreadnought-class deterrent submarine. (Photo: UK MoD/ Crown Copyright)
This is a featured Premium News article, free to access this week.
The mast provides the submarine’s above-water picture, combining visual sensors, electronic warfare and communications capabilities into a single package.
The company is already on contract to provide the Sonar 2076 system for Dreadnought, which comprises the boat’s bow, flank, fin, and towed arrays,
The new award continues a 100-year trend of equipping RN submarines with Thales-produced periscopes or optronic masts.
Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge said: ‘This is a clear investment in maintaining the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent.
‘By providing the ‘eyes’ of the new Dreadnought-
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
The FDI frigate: a growing success story with more opportunities to come
Designed as a multi-role frigate with both anti-submarine and air defence capabilities, Naval Group’s medium-sized FDI frigate increasingly stands out as a success story in an industry wrought with delays.
-
Lessons shaping the next phase of Arleigh Burke production post-Flight IIA
The accelerated delivery of the final Flight IIA destroyer, USS Patrick Gallagher, showcases the payoff of years of workforce investment and process reform at Bath Iron Works, with the lessons feeding into Flight III production.
-
Sealift shortfalls set to drive opportunities across NATO navies
A new Council on Geostrategy primer warns that NATO cannot defend its own supply lines. As the alliance faces a sealift and logistics escort deficit, a wave of unawarded procurement is beginning to take shape.
-
AUKUS advance on UUVs contrasts with Virginia-class compromise
The AUKUS partnership is accelerating uncrewed undersea capability while its submarine arm inches forward, and Australia’s decision to settle for three in-service Virginia-class boats raises questions about industrial risk, dependency and whether Pillar II may deliver meaningful capability long before Pillar I can.