Thales to equip future Dutch Orka-class submarines with sonar suite

As part of the "replacement Netherlands submarine capability" (RNSC) program, the Naval Group has commissioned Thales to supply the sonar suite for the Orka-class submarines for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

"This sonar suite will allow future Dutch submarines to ensure perfect control of the acoustic situation in the face of increasingly silent threats," said Thales.

The Orka class will replace the Walrus-class submarines currently in service. The sonar suite consists of acoustic sensors (combining bow and flank obstacle avoidance), interception sonar, towed passive sonar, underwater telephones, an echo sounder, and associated signal processing bays.

The package ensures a panoramic view of the underwater environment, making it possible to detect, locate and classify threats at short, medium and long distances, over a wide range of frequencies.

"Thales' sonar suite, with its high level of performance, has been a key element of Naval Group's offer and will contribute significantly to the acoustic superiority of the Orka-class submarines," commented Sylvain Perrier, RNSC Program Director for Naval Group.