• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Thales selected for the royal Norwegian navy MCMVs sonar upgrade programme

10 April 2007

The contract, won after strong international competition, covers the delivery of six TSM2022 MK3 N hull mounted sonars (HMS) and associated 15-year life cycle support, maintenance and extensive training package.

During the signature celebration held in Bergen on March 30th, the Commander of the Norwegian Defence Procurement Division, Brigadier Asle Johan Kjelsberg declared: "The impact of this contract is : improved operational performance, improved and increased possibilities for tactical training and increased possibilities for simulator training for the crew"

Mr Jean-Loup Monier, Mine Warfare Systems Business Unit Director said: "This contract is the continuation of more than 20 years relationship between Thales and the Norwegian Authorities and will provide the Norwegian Navy with the utmost advance HMS capability to perform MW hunting and sweeping operations".

The TSM2022 MK3 N is fitted with the latest technology necessary to counter the modern mine threats. Its performance is outstanding in both detection and classification, in particular against stealthy bottom mines. The modular design of this sonar allows it to take on mine avoidance functionalities during mine sweeping operations as well as all mine hunting and route survey operations capabilities, allowing to fit both classes of ships with the same equipment. It will benefit from Thales Underwater Systems real time advanced Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) route survey mode providing high along track resolution.

The TSM2022 MK3 family is already sea proven and in service on the French Navy's modernised CMTs (Chasseur de Mine Tripartites) and has also had successful sea trials in the Belgium and the Dutch CMTs modernisation programs. The TSM2022 MK3 family is also in service in a number of international MCMVs upgrade programs.

This new contract will significantly enlarge the TSM2022 MK3 community of users and further consolidates Thales Underwater Systems position as world leader in MCM system domain.