Defending a Maritime Nation: Thales’ Strategic Role in Securing Australia’s Sovereignty

For a nation girt by sea, what does it take to keep Australia secure? It demands a fusion of world-leading technology and local expertise to safeguard maritime interests and sustain national prosperity.

Securing a Nation Defined by the Ocean

Australia’s fate and future has always been tied to the sea, from economic prosperity to national security. With the world’s third-largest maritime jurisdiction and vital trade routes snaking past its shores, ensuring these lifelines stay open and protected is more than a defence imperative—it’s an act of sovereignty. Today, as threats grow ever more complex, Australia’s answer to this challenge lies in combining industry-leading innovation with sovereign solutions—anchored in Thales’ trusted pedigree and deep local partnerships.

Building and Sustaining Maritime Advantage: Above and Below the Water

For decades, Thales Australia has partnered with the Royal Australian Navy, keeping fleets, capabilities and infrastructure mission ready. From maintaining and upgrading strategic facilities including Sydney’s Garden Island Defence Precinct and Carrington’s Maritime Precinct, to advancing the capabilities of frontline platforms, Thales provides more than technology; it delivers confidence and continuity.

Thales ensures that Navy assets are sustained, available, and in peak condition. Investment in local infrastructure, safety, environmental stewardship and workforce development is central, helping underpin Australia’s maritime security for the long term. Thales’ ecosystem focuses on nurturing local SMEs and skills pipelines, introducing new technology, and modernising dockside capabilities to meet today’s requirements and tomorrow’s challenges.

Navigating Complexity: Advanced Technologies for a Dynamic Threatscape

The modern maritime environment is a rapidly shifting arena, shaped by a spectrum of both traditional and emerging threats—from underwater mines and unmanned vehicles to hypersonic missiles and digital warfare. Staying ahead of these challenges demands more than vigilance; it requires the seamless integration of world-leading technologies across all domains; above and below the surface.

By fusing real-time data and advanced human-machine collaboration, Thales empowers navies to detect, track, and counter adversaries faster and more effectively—ensuring control over even the most complex and contested waters. Capabilities are built for interoperability with allies, and capabilities are designed with resilience and security at its core, safeguarding sovereignty and enabling decisive action in the world’s most dynamic threatscape.

Above-water: Sensors, Systems, and Skilled Service for a New Era

Thales’ above-water warfare solutions deliver advanced capability and rapid response for Australia’s naval fleet and allies, leveraging leading-edge sensors and systems to ensure persistent protection in a dynamic threat environment. 

Thales’ specialists design integrated masts housing multiple sensors to enhance situational awareness, while solutions like Gatekeeper and Artemis surveillance systems empower navies to see further, react faster, and defend against evolving threats.

But service delivery is about more than technology—it relies on the dedication and expertise of a highly skilled workforce. People are at the core of everything Thales does. As an Employer of Choice and Registered Training Provider, Thales continually invests in upskilling its workforce to deliver world-class results for customers. Since 2014, Thales has supported 106 apprentices and trainees at the Garden Island Defence Precinct and in 2022 deployed 13 technicians on advanced electronics and combat systems courses. With over $14.5 million invested in training since 2017, Thales ensures every team member is prepared to respond to customer needs and technological evolution.

Safety underpins every activity. Thales’ world-class HSE systems, processes, and culture are reinforced by dedicated safety, quality, and support staff, ensuring the wellbeing of employees, customers, and partners at every step.

Contributions from veterans—who comprise around 10% of the Thales Australia and New Zealand workforce—bring invaluable operational knowledge and military experience to service and support environments. This commitment to people strengthens Thales’ capability, quality, and enduring contribution to national defence.

Thales’ portfolio management capability drives a stable, sovereign sustainment environment, helping reduce total cost of ownership across Australia’s Navy while ensuring operational readiness. Through innovation, expertise, and a culture of safety and service, Thales sets the standard for above-water defence—delivering technology backed by the best talent in the industry.

Undersea Advantage: Pioneering Innovation Below the Surface

Advancing Sovereign Submarine Capability: Collins-class Upgrades & Sustainment

Thales is at the forefront of securing Australia’s underwater domain by modernising and sustaining the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarines. As the trusted long-term partner of Defence, Thales Australia is delivering major sonar system upgrades—integrating new sonar sensor arrays and advanced signal processing systems designed and developed alongside Australian industry partners. 

For over 25 years, the Collins-class has relied on the comprehensive Scylla Sonar Suite, supported in-service by Thales teams on the East and West Coast of the country. With recent contract extensions, Thales continues to provide vital sustainment for both sonar and periscope systems through the 2030s—ensuring these critical platforms remain ready to meet the region’s evolving strategic challenges. Every aspect, from research and development to integration and long-term support, is delivered on Australian soil and with the support of local companies.

Partnering for Australian Innovation

Delivering world-leading undersea defence solutions takes strong, focused collaboration. Thales works in close partnership with Australian companies, research institutions, and select international partners to ensure its broader undersea capabilities—are equipped with the most advanced technologies. By nurturing this collaborative ecosystem, Thales helps secure the future of Australia’s defence industry and supports a highly skilled workforce dedicated to sovereign innovation.

Transforming Undersea Operations: Autonomous Systems and Next-Gen Sensors

Thales in Australia is driving the shift towards unmanned and autonomous operations with an Australian-first program that is transforming maritime border protection. Investments in local research, emerging robotics, and cutting-edge AI give Australia the capability to monitor and secure vast ocean territories, while reducing risk to personnel and maximising persistent coverage.

This “system of systems” approach leverages coordinated fleets of crewed and uncrewed vessels using the very best in robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced sensors. Flagship technologies like the BlueSentry® Thin-Line Towed Array—designed and manufactured at Thales’ Acoustics Centre of Excellence in Rydalmere—support sophisticated anti-submarine warfare and undersea surveillance missions.

Thales’ Acoustics Centre of Excellence —a hub of local innovation and advanced sonar technology production that supports defence customers in Australia and across the globe. Through continual investment in people, research, and manufacturing, Thales is ensuring that Australia’s underwater defence is not only world-class, but truly sovereign and resilient for the future.

Sovereignty and Shared Success

Beyond technology, partnership is at the heart of Thales’ approach. Thales collaborates closely with government, local industry, academia, and SMEs across Australia to build sovereign capability. This trust-based model not only strengthens the defence industrial base and supports Australian jobs, but it also ensures resilience in times of crisis. 

The investments made —such as in R&D, local manufacturing, and workforce upskilling—help to secure Australia’s role as a strategic maritime nation. Through global programs like Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MMCM), Thales brings global experience while fostering local innovation, ensuring the next generation of maritime solutions is built in, and for, Australia.

The Outlook: Innovation and Readiness

Australia’s maritime security will always depend on its people, industry, and the strength of its partnerships. As technologies evolve and operational needs shift, Thales remains committed to advancing sovereign capability—integrating global breakthroughs with local delivery so that Australia’s Navy is ready for whatever the future may bring.

In a world of uncertainty, the focus remains clear: to help protect what matters most, with solutions made for Australia, by Australia.