French DGA Orders Air-Dropped Acoustic Buoys from Thales for Anti-Submarine Ops
New-generation SonoFlash buoys to enhance French Navy's submarine detection capabilities
The French General Directorate for Armaments (DGA) ordered several hundred SonoFlash acoustic buoys from Thales for the French Navy.
The order was placed on December 26, 2024, under the SonoFlash framework agreement.
The new buoys are designed for anti-submarine warfare and will support the protection of surface vessels and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SNLE). They can be deployed by maritime patrol aircraft such as the renovated Atlantique 2, NH90 Caïman Marine helicopters, and fixed or rotary-wing drones.
The SonoFlash buoys will complement existing acoustic systems of Anglo-Saxon design and enhance detection capabilities. They operate in both active and passive modes and can transmit collected data to surface ships, aircraft, and acoustic support centers equipped with specialized processing systems.
The new system has extended operational autonomy and integrates with onboard sonars and helicopter-borne antennas, including the Flash dipping sonar.
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