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Thales Underwater Systems celebrates 20th anniversary in Australia

04 August 2008

Thales Underwater Systems today celebrated the 20th anniversary of sonar and underwater systems design and manufacturing at Rydalmere.

The event was attended by the Hon Greg Combet AM MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement.

Thales Australia's Rydalmere facility employs 300 people, and comprises an advanced manufacturing operation capable of producing sonar systems in significant volumes. The company also works with over 50 SMEs in this area.

The business is a key strategic partner of the Australian Defence Force and Royal Australian Navy, supplying a variety of advanced sonar capabilities to ANZAC and FFG frigates, Collins class submarines and Huon class Minehunters. Thales leads the Australian market for underwater warfare systems, and has offered its world-leading sonar system to the Australian Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program.

An export success story, sonar capabilities from Rydalmere have been supplied to the UK, French, Italian, Norwegian and Saudi Arabian navies. The Indian Navy's Scorpene submarine program also makes use of components made in Australia.

Thales's sonar systems detect and track targets such as submarines and sea mines. This task is difficult because submarines fitted with advanced technologies such as stealthy, air-independent propulsion are readily available to potential adversaries. Sonar systems must therefore be continually developed and refined to counter such threats.

In R&D, the company is actively involved with national capability development through the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, universities, CSIRO and Australian industry.

Speaking at the event, Thales Australia MD Chris Jenkins noted the strategic importance of a strong, local sonar capability, plus the operationally-proven nature of Thales's technology.

"The Royal Australian Navy requires superior sonar capabilities that deal with not just today's threats, but those years into the future. Our systems provide that, and are currently in service with navies around the world. They're proven, they're low risk, and they're the best systems available.

"Our unique Australian in-country expertise, production facilities and support are a fundamental part of our sonar business. We have a long-term relationship with the Royal Australian Navy, and the experience and capability to meet its real needs over the coming decades."

About Thales

Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales's leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. To this end, the group's civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2007 revenues of AUD19 billion.

Thales Australia is the leading defence systems and engineering company in Australia and is also present in civil sectors ranging from air traffic management to security systems and services. Employing 3,700 people in over 35 sites around the country, Thales Australia recorded revenues in 2007 amounting to over AUD1 billion.