Thales delivers world’s first autonomous mine hunting system to Royal Navy

Technological breakthrough in naval defence by Franco-British project

European aerospace and defence company Thales has delivered world's first autonomous mine-hunting system to the UK’s Royal Navy, which was developed under the Joint Armament Cooperation Organisation (OCCAR) and the Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme.

Achieving a major milestone, Thales, a European aerospace and defence company, has delivered the world’s first fully autonomous maritime mine hunting system to the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom.

In a press statement, Thales states that this project developed under the Joint Armament Cooperation Organisation (OCCAR) and the Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme, aims to position the UK and France at the forefront of naval innovation.

It adds that this cutting-edge system is designed to enhance mine countermeasure operations through cyber-secured autonomous drones equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI). By leveraging advanced technology, it seeks to revolutionise the sector with increased precision and safety.

Thales says that the development of this system has sustained 200 skilled jobs, thereby strengthening the British defence industry.

It adds that the Royal Navy will receive its first four systems within this year. Each system will consist of integrated components designed to execute highly complex missions. This includes an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), an advanced towed sonar (TSAM) with a multivision sonar (SAMDIS), a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), and a lightweight operations centre (e-POC), all supported by a secure command and control system.

“This delivery marks a significant milestone in our mine-hunting capabilities and the autonomous technology will keep Britain and our Royal Navy sailors safer by identifying & removing them from mines. It has also supported hundreds of skilled jobs across UK industry, a clear demonstration that defence is an engine for economic growth,” says Maria Eagle, Minister, Defence Procurement & Industry, of UK.

Thales also says that it has developed a sonar analysis application, Mi-Map, which processes sonar data up to four times faster, thus enabling precise detection and classification of sea floor mines. The system which can be deployed from a mother ship or coastal bases, is designed to manage vast volumes of data, allowing operators to accelerate mine identification and neutralisation processes.

“We are extremely proud to deliver the world’s first end-to-end autonomous mine hunting system to the Royal Navy. With the introduction of AI and advanced sensor technology, this innovation marks a new era in naval defence and underlines our unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that enhance the capabilities of our armed forces. The Royal Navy will now have a powerful tool to protect its national interests and maintain safety at sea,” says Phil Siveter, CEO, Thales, UK.

Meanwhile, as per the press statement, this handover ceremony was attended by Rebecca Smith, Member of Parliament for South West Devon, which was held at the Thales Maritime Autonomy Centre in Plymouth.

“I welcome today’s announcement by Thales regarding the delivery to the Royal Navy of the world’s first end-to-end autonomous mine hunting system. I am pleased to see that a city with such a prestigious naval history as Plymouth now finds itself at the heart of a future rich in innovations for the Royal Navy. I hope we continue to see new activities develop, resulting in new local jobs in high-tech maritime areas. In the current climate, it is important to ensure strong military and industrial cooperation across Europe, and I am proud to see Plymouth playing a key role in effectively supporting the relationship between the UK and France”, says Smith.