Thales Drives Next-Generation Sonar for Dutch Submarine Superiority

Thales Drives Next-Generation Sonar for Dutch Submarine Superiority

(IN BRIEF) Thales has signed an agreement with Naval Group to supply an advanced sonar suite for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s upcoming Orka-class submarines under the RNSC programme. This comprehensive sonar system is designed to deliver a full picture of the underwater acoustic environment, ensuring that the new submarines can detect and counter stealthy threats effectively. Thales, which currently equips over 50 submarines globally, will replace the aging Walrus-class with this high-performance system featuring multiple acoustic sensors including bow, flank, and obstacle-avoidance sonars, an intercept array, a passive towed-array, and additional components like an echo-sounder and signal processing racks. This initiative not only underscores the strategic collaboration between Thales, Naval Group, and the Royal Netherlands Navy but also aligns with the Dutch government’s efforts to empower national industries. The programme also includes partnerships with local companies such as Optics11, integrating innovative technologies to enhance the underwater capabilities of the Dutch naval fleet.

(PRESS RELEASE) MEUDON, France, 19-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Under a newly established agreement with Naval Group, Thales will provide the advanced sonar suite for the forthcoming Orka-class submarines, which will serve as part of the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability (RNSC) programme for the Royal Netherlands Navy. This cutting-edge sonar system is designed to deliver a complete and detailed depiction of the underwater acoustic environment, thereby empowering the future submarines to counter increasingly silent and stealthy threats effectively.

Thales, a globally acknowledged leader in the underwater systems market, currently equips over 50 submarines of various classes, including nuclear ballistic missile submarines, nuclear-powered attack submarines, and conventionally powered vessels. With a long history of collaboration with both Naval Group and the Royal Netherlands Navy, Thales is set to furnish an integrated suite of high-performance sonar systems. This state-of-the-art equipment will not only replace the existing Walrus-class submarines but will also ensure that the Netherlands maintains its operational superiority through unmatched acoustic surveillance.

The sonar suite comprises an array of sophisticated acoustic sensors. These include bow, flank, and obstacle-avoidance sonars; an intercept array; a passive towed-array sonar; an underwater voice communication system; an echo-sounder; and robust signal processing racks. Together, these components will offer an unprecedented panoramic view of the underwater realm, enabling the detection, localization, and classification of diverse threats across short, medium, and long distances over a wide frequency spectrum.

Sylvain Perrier, RNSC Programme Director for Naval Group, emphasized that the highly capable Thales sonar suite was a pivotal factor in their competitive bid for the programme. He noted that it would make a substantial contribution to achieving the acoustic superiority of the Orka-class submarines, and he expressed confidence in Thales’ ability to meet the rigorous demands of the COMMIT requirements, all while fostering close cooperation with Dutch industry.

This programme further reinforces Thales’ strategic alignment with the Dutch government’s policies aimed at bolstering and empowering national industries. It also deepens the company’s involvement in the Dutch naval defence ecosystem, as highlighted by a recent contract with the Dutch firm Optics11, which will integrate its OptiArray technology into the passive towed-array sonar system.

Sébastien Guérémy, Vice President of Underwater Systems at Thales, remarked, “We are proud that our advanced sonar suite has been selected to equip the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Orka-class submarines. This partnership not only enhances the technological edge of the Dutch armed forces but also demonstrates our unwavering commitment to delivering innovative and reliable solutions in support of allied defence capabilities.”

About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

MEDIA CONTACT
Thales, Media Relations – Defence
Camille Heck
+33 6 73 78 33 63
camille.heck@thalesgroup.com

SOURCE: Thales