Thales to supply sonar systems for the Netherlands’ Orka submarines
The Naval Group Barracuda design for the Orka submarine. (Photo: Naval Group)
The company will deliver a comprehensive sensor suite when the Orka class comes into service in the early 2030s.
Thales has signed a deal with Naval Group to supply the sonar suite for the Orka-class diesel-electric submarines that will make up the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Walrus replacement programme (WRES).
The four-vessel Orka class will replace the Netherlands’ Walrus-class submarines, which were built in the 1980s and 1990s, with the commissioning of the first of the class being delayed until 1990.
As a result of the delays to the Walrus-class coming into service, they have an expected out-of-service date of 2035, meaning that the Orka-class will need to start replacing them by then.
According to Shephard Defence Insight,
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