The French Navy is set to enhance its anti-submarine warfare capabilities through a recent agreement with Thales for the supply of SonoFlash sonobuoys. This procurement will involve the delivery of “several hundred” sonobuoys featuring advanced active and passive detection technologies, significantly improving France’s ability to search for, locate, and track hostile submarines across extensive maritime territories.
The new sonobuoys are anticipated to enhance the Navy’s strategic and operational effectiveness in countering submarine threats, particularly in an era marked by renewed naval tensions. Sébastien Guérémy, vice president for underwater systems at Thales, expressed pride in supporting the development of France’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. He highlighted the global recognition of Thales’ excellence in the underwater systems sector, emphasizing its importance to the French Navy.
Equipped with a powerful low-frequency emitter and a precise directional receiver, the SonoFlash sonobuoys facilitate effective passive underwater listening. These sonobuoys are designed with high-performance communication systems, enabling efficient data transfer to surface ships, aircraft, and specialized acoustic support centers with sonobuoy processing capabilities. Moreover, the interoperability of the SonoFlash with existing systems, such as the Flash dipping sonar and the CAPTAS family of towed array sonars, provides enhanced detection capabilities critical for modern naval operations.
For deployment, the SonoFlash sonobuoys can be launched from a variety of platforms, including maritime patrol aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters. Notably, the ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft and the NH90 Caiman helicopter are among the primary platforms for deploying these advanced sonobuoys. In mid-2024, Thales demonstrated the capability of the ATL2 to successfully launch the SonoFlash sonobuoy, marking a significant step in operational readiness for the French Navy.
With these upgrades, France is positioning itself to maintain an edge in the increasingly challenging maritime environment, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding national and allied interests at sea.
