The French Navy planning to field SonoFlash on modernised Atlantique ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft and NH90 Caïman helicopters. Meanwhile, Thales is in parallel stepping up its international marketing efforts as it seeks to secure early export customers.
SonoFlash is a new-generation A-size sonobuoy developed to meet French Navy anti-submarine warfare (ASW) requirement and re-establish a ‘sovereign’ capability for sonobuoy design and manufacture. Unlike other sonobuoys on the market, which are either active or passive in operation, SonoFlash offers both modes by integrating a high-powered transmitter and a passive low-frequency directional receiver into a single acoustic buoy. This dual modality is intended to reduce the number of increase tactical flexibility, reduce the overall number of sonobuoys needed in a field, and open up opportunities for multistatic operation.
Following feasibility studies in 2016, Thales was in January 2021 awarded a contract by the DGA for full development, qualification, and production of SonoFlash. A final set of end-to-end tests is currently underway, with full qualification planned before the end of this year.
Pre-series production SonoFlash buoys have already been the subject of a number of risk reduction and test events. For example, trials were performed in the Mediterranean in May 2022 to verify the mechanical deployment the SonoFlash acoustic antennas after water entry. DGA Naval Techniques subsequently worked with Thales to measure and characterise the acoustic performance of SonoFlash at the DGA range facility on Lake Castillon.
Qualification with the Atlantique ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft was completed in mid-2024.
The first LRIP batch is due to be delivered to the DGA in early 2025, with SonoFlash production for the French Navy currently planned to run through 2028. As well as forming part of a broader effort to re-establish an ‘onshore’ industrial capability in sonobuoy design and production, the programme is also growing an ‘ecosystem’ of small and medium enterprises – such as TELERAD, SelhaGroup, and Realmeca – to support local manufacture.
While the French Navy is the launch customer for SonoFlash, Thales sees international sales as essential to drive efficient production volumes. As well as dispense from ASW helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, the company believes the compact size and dual mode flexibility of SonoFlash will also create a market for deployment from unmanned air vehicles and unmanned surface vessels.
