Thales to provide high-performance sonar suite for future Orka-class submarines in the Netherlands
Thales will provide sonar systems for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s future submarines, replacing the Walrus class. These systems will enhance underwater situational awareness and operational superiority.
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The sonar suite features high-performance acoustic sensors, including bow, flank and obstacle-avoidance sonars, an intercept array, a passive towed-array sonar, an underwater voice communication system, an echo-sounder and signal processing racks. This cohesive suite of equipment will provide an unprecedented panoramic view of the underwater environment, making it possible to detect, locate and classify all types of threats at short, medium and long range across a wide range of frequencies.
Sylvain Perrier, RNSC Programme Director for Naval Group, said: "The highly capable Thales sonar suite was a key component of Naval Group's bid for this programme, and will make a significant contribution to the acoustic superiority of the Orka-class submarines. We know we can count on Thales to meet the demanding requirements of the COMMIT1 and to work hand in hand with Dutch industry on the RNSC programme."
This programme is an opportunity for Thales to align with the Dutch government's policy of support and empowerment of strategic national industries. It will consolidate the company's engagement with the naval defence ecosystem in the Netherlands, within the framework of the RNSC programme, as illustrated by a recent contract with the Dutch company Optics11, to use its OptiArray technology in the passive towed-array sonar.
"We are proud that Thales's advanced sonar suite has been selected to equip the Royal Netherlands Navy's Orka-class submarines. This partnership will enhance the technological superiority of the Dutch armed forces, and reflects our ongoing commitment to providing innovative, dependable solutions in support of the defence capabilities of allied nations," said Sébastien Guérémy, Vice President, Underwater Systems, Thales.
1 COMMIT (Commando Materieel en IT / Materiel and IT Command) is part of the Dutch Ministry of Defence and responsible for the Orka-class submarines tendering process and project management.
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