Thales UK sonar systems for Dreadnought
Thales UK has received a £330 million contract to provide the sonar system for the Royal Navy’s Dreadnought submarines, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 28 February.
The contract was awarded by BAE Systems Submarines, which is building four nuclear submarines for the Royal Navy as its future Continuous at-Sea Deterrence (CASD).
The sonars and sensors will include Thales’ Sonar 2076 and electronic warfare systems to provide visual and situational awareness for the crew.
The next-generation Dreadnought submarines are due to enter service with the Royal Navy from the early 2030s as a replacement for the Vanguard class of ballistic missile submarines.
Victor Chavez, chief executive, Thales, said: ‘Thales is immensely proud of our contribution to the CASD over the last 50 years. This announcement represents a £330m investment in world-class sonar and optronics systems; providing the battle-winning edge for the Royal Navy.
‘Having supported the deterrent since its inception, and with over a century of supplying periscopes to the Royal Navy, I am proud that our engineers continue to deliver cutting edge innovative technology at sites across the UK.’
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