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
-
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.
-
Stockholm prepares to choose between three European frigate proposals
Sweden’s Luleå frigate programme is gathering momentum, with a Saab and Babcock joint proposal and Navantia and Naval Group each presenting distinct propositions for a quartet of warships.
-
As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging
Research programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.
-
US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027
After recording a nearly six-year delay in the OPC schedule, the USCG intends to advance with the programme, reaching multiple milestones in the short term.
-
Japan’s first warship sale opens door to future exports but comes with strings attached
Australia’s selection of an upgraded Mogami-class frigate marks Japan’s first-ever export of a major surface combatant. With an ambitious 2029 delivery target, the deal could open the door to further naval exports – but inexperience and geopolitical friction with China loom large.