Thales To Support Flash Dipping Sonars On French Navy's NH90 Helicopters

Thales announced it has won a two year contract by the NATO Helicopter Management Agency to support 14 FLASH dipping sonars on the French Navy's 27 NH90 NFH helicopters. According to the terms of the contract the company will contribute to the operational readiness of the French Navy NH90 NFH helicopters equipped with the FLASH sonar system and will enable them to fulfill their antisubmarine warfare missions in conjunction with the Navy's FREMM frigates equipped with the Captas-4 variable depth sonar from Thales. The FLASH is a primary anti-submarine warfare sensor system that is installed on maritime surveillance helicopters which will counter the threat of submarines operating in deep or littoral waters. Benoit Plantier, Managing Director of Thales Underwater Systems, said, “Delighted with this success, which is also Thales's first through-life support contract for the NH90 NFH helicopters in service with the French Navy. Drawing on its solid experience in through-life support for anti-submarine warfare systems, Thales is able to offer this type of service for other navies equipped with the FLASH sonar".