Unmanned Surface Vehicles
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Thales recently supplied the French Navy with the first series of autonomous mine countermeasure drones.
This milestone is said to be a global first, within the framework of the Franco-British MMCM initiative, managed by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and supported by OCCAR. The system transforms the approach to mine countermeasure missions, enhancing the protection of sailors and reinforcing the safety of international waters, which are essential to global trade.
The initial system provided to the French Navy includes a Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) equipped with the TSAM sonar, designed to identify and categorize naval mines. This technology allows for remote operation from a land base, mother ship, or other vessels, reducing the risk to personnel while executing mine-clearing tasks.
The 12-meter USV is engineered for rapid deployment, capable of being airlifted within 48 hours via an A400M aircraft and can be carried onboard the future Mine Warfare Vessel (BGDM). In 2025, France will receive six USVs as part of the SLAMF initiative—three systems, each composed of two USVs, in addition to an updated prototype. The British Royal Navy is also set to receive four system-of-systems, each containing a single USV, throughout the year.
Philippe Duhamel, Executive Vice-President of Defence Mission Systems at Thales, said, “The United Kingdom and France have set an ambitious goal: to transform their mine countermeasure capabilities by adopting new disruptive operational concepts. Thales is proud to be at the heart of this transformation, which positions both nations as pioneers in autonomous naval systems. Our Group, a world leader in mine countermeasures, reaffirms its position as an innovative and reliable partner that navies can count on to develop their strategic capabilities.”
