Building on decades of expertise in airborne acoustic systems for both anti-submarine helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, Thales has established an unrivalled depth of experience in active dipping sonar, active and passive sonobuoys and advanced sonics processing.
Operated from aircraft, dipping sonars and sonobuoys thwart the underwater threat.
The worldwide N°1 dipping sonar FLASH (Folding Light Acoustic System for Helicopters) is a low frequency, wide band dipping sonar for helicopters and Unmanned Surface Vessels which features a new, open architecture Common Acoustic Processor with integrated VHF receiver for concurrent sonobuoy processing capability. FLASH offers the best optimisation between mechanical performance (weight, volume) and acoustic performance (optimal frequency) and delivers unrivalled acoustic performance for submarine detection, classification and tracking in both deep and shallow water environments, worldwide.
To counter the evolution of the submarine threat, through which submarine radiated noise levels and target strength are lower than ever, Thales have developed TMS 2000, a new sonobuoy processing system based on experience gained at sea with the UK, French and Australian multi-static programmes. At the heart of TMS 2000 is a new Common Acoustic Processor, which can simultaneously process up to 64 sonobuoys, including all NATO and Australian analogue and digital types. Advanced processing techniques provide extensive data fusion, a full set of classification aids and functionality for a mission ground centre for planning, analysis and training elements. TMS 2000 can be installed in Maritime Patrol Aircraft or in ASW helicopters fully integrated with FLASH dipping sonar.
Latest References:
Thales’s FLASH helicopter-borne dipping sonar has been chosen by:
UK Royal Navy (EH101 Merlin)
US Navy (MH-60R), the French Navy (NFH90)
UAE Naval Force (Naval Cougar)
Royal Swedish Navy (NFH90)
Royal Norwegian Air Force (NFH90).
TMS 2000 has been contracted by French, UK, UAE, Turkish, Swedish and Norwegian forces for helicopter and fixed-wing applications.