Thales and HII have announced a new partnership to provide an autonomous mine countermeasures (MCM) system.
The two firms revealed they have successfully integrated Thales Synthetic Aperture Mine Detection and Imaging Sonar (SAMDIS 600) with HII’s REMUS 620 medium uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV).
As per a press statement, combined together, the two systems promise to offer “autonomous mine detection, classification, and imaging, offering naval forces and partners around the world enhanced capability for undersea security, mine countermeasures, and subsea infrastructure monitoring.”
The integration of the two platforms was successfully tested at the end of last month at HII’s Pocasset facility in Massachusetts, USA.
Thales’ SAMDIS system is an operationally proven, ultra-high-resolution, multi-view Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS); its modular design means SAMDIS can be integrated onto a wide range of platforms. Thales has already delivered over 30 SAMDIS systems to navies including the U.K., France, and Japan, and a further 50 systems are on order.
The REMUS 620 is part of HII’s wider REMUS UUV family; more than 700 REMUS vehicles have been sold to date to over 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. Earlier this year its Yellow Moray UUV was launched and recovered from the torpedo tubes of a U.S. Navy Virginia-class nuclear submarine.
President of HII Mission Technologies’ Unmanned Systems business group Duane Fotheringham commented: “Teaming the Thales’ advanced SAMDIS 600 sensor in the REMUS 620 underscores the power of collaboration in driving innovation for our customers.”
He added: “This milestone demonstrates not only the adaptability of the REMUS 620 but also the strength of industry partnerships in delivering next-generation, interoperable solutions that enhance undersea dominance for NATO and allied forces.”
And Thales Underwater Systems’ U.K. Managing Director Paul Armstrong added: “This achievement is the result of a strong working relationship with HII, demonstrating the strength of industry collaboration in delivering advanced solutions for the benefit of our users’ missions.”
- You can read more details on the HII website and the Thales website