DCNS, Thales and ECA win DGA contract to study drones for mine countermeasures
24 July 2009
The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded DCNS, Thales and ECA a major study contract that is expected to lead, around 2011, to a demonstrator of a new mine countermeasures solution dubbed Espadon*.
Today, mine countermeasures (MCM) is typically performed by dedicated vessels known as minehunters. MCM operations expose minehunter crews to considerable danger due to the simple fact that these vessels operate in known mine fields.
With many navies expected to renew their MCM systems over the coming decade, DCNS, Thales and ECA have put forward a joint solution using a type of naval drone known as an unmanned surface vehicle. USVs offer the key benefit of keeping minehunter crews out of harm’s way.
The Espadon solution comprises a minehunter, two USVs and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). While remaining at all times at a safe distance from the mine field, the minehunter or similar dedicated vessel will deploy and control the USVs, each programmed specifically to operate in mine fields. The USVs, in turn, will deploy AUVs, a smaller and completely autonomous type of subsea naval drone carrying sensors and robotic devices to detect and neutralise naval mines. On completing their mission, the AUVs return to the USVs and the USVs to the mother vessel.
With Espadon, DCNS, Thales and ECA will be the first team in the world to evaluate USVs deploying AUVs for full-scale mine countermeasures.
The Espadon studies will be shared in such a way as to ensure that each partner contributes its specific expertise in MCM.
In addition to acting as the lead contractor to the DGA for the overall project, DCNS is responsible for the USV platform and the interface with the mother vessel.
Thales is responsible for the USV, MCM outfitting and the sensor module, comprising an AUV and a towed sonar for mine detection, identification and location. Thales is also responsible for communications between the different components.
ECA is responsible for the design and development of the autonomous underwater vehicles, the AUV launch and recovery system and the USV remote control system.
* ESPADON (Évaluation de Solutions Potentielles d’Automatisation de Déminage pour les Opérations Navales) or evaluation of potential solutions for the automation of mine clearing for naval operations.
About DCNS
DCNS is a leading European player on the world market for integrated warships. In response to customer demands for more comprehensive and integrated systems, DCNS acts as prime contractor for naval shipbuilding, integration and support by combining its own development, marketing and production capabilities with those of selected partners. To manage the complexity of such projects, the Group draws on in-house expertise in naval architecture and systems engineering, ship assembly and integration and equipment design and production, as well as through-life support. The Group employs 12,000 staff and generates annual revenues of around €2.5 billion (2008 figures).
About Thales
Thales is a global leader in aerospace, defence, security and transportation. With 25,000 engineers and researchers, the company has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services meeting the most demanding security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. The company employs 68,000 people in 50 countries and generates revenues of around €12.7 billion (2008 figures).
About ECA
ECA specialises in robotics, simulation and control and security systems. At the forefront of technological innovation, the group is a global leader in remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) for subsea mine hunting and clearance with 70% of the worldwide installed base. ECA also designs, develops and produces ROVs for the offshore oil industry and oceanographic and hydrographic applications as well as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for civil security and counter-terrorism. The ECA group employs some 600 staff and generates annual revenues of around €90 million.
Press Contacts DCNS
Emmanuel Gaudez
+33 (0) 1 40 59 55 69
emmanuel.gaudez@dcnsgroup.com
Bertrand Baudry
+33 (0)2 97 12 19 67
bertrand.baudry@dcnsgroup.com
www.dcnsgroup.com
Press Contacts Thales
Caroline Philips
+33 (0) 57 77 86 26
caroline.philips@thalesgroup.com
Markus Leutert
+33 (0)1 57 77 83 21
markus.leutert@thalesgroup.com
www.thalesgroup.com
Press Contacts ECA
Henny Hofstätter
+33 (0)4 94 08 90 00
hofstaetter.h@ecagroup.com
www.ecagroup.com
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