THALES
The French Navy has selected the SonoFlash new-generation sonobuoy from Thales. Unveiled at the Euronaval show in October 2018, SonoFlash will enable France to reach its strategic capability goal for acoustic sensors.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210318005484/en/
The threat posed by submarines is evolving rapidly. Three decades ago, only the superpowers had a true undersea warfare capability, but numerous countries now deploy modern submarine fleets. At the same time, forces increasingly operate in littoral waters, which are much more complex for sonar systems, rather than in the relative certainty of open-ocean environments.
Responding to this evolving threat environment, Thales developed the SonoFlash buoy, a new-generation sonobuoy with an unequalled performance-to-mass ratio that builds on decades of expertise in sonars and acoustic sensors to offer an ambitious new solution.
Its innovative design and advanced technology include a number of key features to deliver unrivalled performance. Today's sonobuoys are either passive or active. By contrast, the SonoFlash buoy offers the best of both modes, combining a powerful, optimised low-frequency transmitter with a high-directivity passive receiver. With the combination of these two capabilities, and the added advantage of long endurance, the SonoFlash buoy is suitable for a wide array of deployment scenarios.
Fully compatible with the other families of Thales sonars, the SonoFlash buoy offers high tactical flexibility and opens up promising new opportunities for multistatic operation. Coupled with the FLASH dipping sonar, for example, the SonoFlash buoy enables an aircraft to expand its coverage area and respond with greater agility to evasive manoeuvres by a submarine. Thanks to its digitised signal and optimal communication range, the SonoFlash buoy data can be readily exploited by any piloted or remotely piloted aircraft, naval vessel or shore centre equipped with a sonobuoy processing system.
The French Navy will be the first operational user of the SonoFlash buoy, which will be deployed by the modernised Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft and NH90 Caiman tactical transport helicopters. It will be delivered to the Navy from 2025 and could be available in export markets to equip all modern maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters as well as all types of unmanned platforms, including autonomous surface vehicles and rotary-wing (VTOL) and fixed-wing UAVs equipped with a suitable multi-sonobuoy dispenser.
Manufactured in France with a network of SMEs such as TELERAD, SelhaGroup and Realmeca, the SonoFlash buoy relies on Thales’s expertise in acoustic sensor technology to contribute to France’s desire for independence in strategic industries.
“Thales has packed 10 years of innovation in hardware and digital technologies into a tube measuring 91.4 cm long and 12.3 cm in diameter. SonoFlash extends the range of a naval force's anti-submarine warfare operations, outclassing all other sonobuoys in the market today and offering a versatile and easy-to-deploy solution for tracking submarines from any piloted or remotely piloted aircraft, frigate or unmanned surface vehicle. We are grateful to the DGA and the Navy for the trust they have placed in us and delighted to be working with French partner SMEs to bring this project to a successful conclusion and restore France's sovereign capabilities in sonobuoys. ” Alexis Morel, VP Underwater Systems, Thales.
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing – to build a confident future crucial for the development of our societies. The Group provides its customers – businesses, organisations and governments – in the defense, aeronautics, space, transport, and digital identity and security domains with solutions, services and products that help them fulfil their critical role, consideration for the individual being the driving force behind all decisions.
Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2020 the Group generated sales of €17 billion.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210318005484/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Grid Dynamics Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Advance Data Foundations for Generative AI9.12.2025 15:15:00 CET | Press release
Key Takeaways: Grid Dynamics has signed a multi-year agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate AI-related services for enterprise customers. The agreement extends a 15-year collaboration and provides Grid Dynamics access to the AWS Data Foundations for Generative AI Program designed to help enterprises adopt and scale AI-enabled solutions. Through this expanded collaboration, Grid Dynamics is set to empower clients across every stage of their AI journey with modern, scalable, and secure data foundations from AWS. Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GDYN) (Grid Dynamics), a premier IT consulting and digital services provider, today announced it has entered into a multi-year strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The agreement focuses on enabling and scaling generative AI journeys for enterprise companies, extending a 15-year relationship between the companies. The collaboration provides Grid Dynamics access to the AWS Data Foundations for
Indero Named Best Employer by Mercer9.12.2025 15:00:00 CET | Press release
Indero, a global CRO specializing in dermatology and rheumatology, has been honored by Mercer, recognizing its excellence as a Best Employer. Indero is proud of its long-term commitment to building a workplace culture defined by trust, fairness, and meaningful employee experiences and believes this distinction reflects its positive impact in 2025. The Best Employers in Canada – Powered by Mercer certification program recognizes organizations that consistently deliver a positive and engaging employee experience, based on employee feedback. The degree of employee engagement is a crucial factor for both current and prospective clients and partners, since motivated and committed employees are more likely to excel in their roles and ensure the highest standards in the organization’s products and services. Formerly known as the Kincentric Best Employers, the program has highlighted Canada’s top workplaces for over 25 years and now benefits from Mercer’s expanded global reach and one of the m
Gulf Oil Selects DataXstream’s OMS+ Portal to Power LATAM Digital Transformation9.12.2025 14:33:00 CET | Press release
New deployment will enable Gulf Oil to modernize the distributor experience, support long-term digital growth and deliver a unified customer experience on SAP S/4HANA DataXstream LLC, an SAP® Endorsed App partner developing innovative solutions for SAP sales and distribution, today announced that Gulf Oil, a globally recognized lubricant company with operations in more than 25 countries, has selected OMS+ Portal to modernize and unify the company’s customer-facing sales platform across Latin America. The project is part of a broader initiative to streamline operations, enhance scalability and deliver a seamless buying experience that is fully integrated with SAP S/4HANA. As Gulf Oil continues its footprint across LATAM, the company needed a solution that would not only elevate the customer experience, but also provide the flexibility and performance needed to scale. OMS+ Portal will serve as the central platform for Gulf’s distributor network, offering a unified, SAP-embedded environme
Guardant Health and Policlinico Gemelli Launch In-House Liquid Biopsy Testing Service in Italy9.12.2025 14:05:00 CET | Press release
Leading European Hospital System Begins Offering On-site Liquid Biopsy Testing Based on Proprietary Guardant360® CDx Technology Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, today announced the successful launch of FPG 360, an in-house liquid biopsy testing service at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS (Policlinico Gemelli) in Rome, Italy. This partnership is the latest in a series of public-private partnerships Guardant Health has formed with top-tier European academic and research hospitals that embed its groundbreaking technology with existing care pathways to expand access to more cancer patients. Policlinico Gemelli will offer on-site liquid biopsy testing based on Guardant360® CDx technology. The collaboration expands access to precision oncology diagnostics and supports both routine care and clinical research. FPG 360 is one of the first dedicated liquid biopsy testing facilities in Italy housed within a hospital system. P
NTT DATA appoints CEO of newly established AI Company NTT DATA AIVista, Inc.9.12.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press release
Dr. Bratin Saha joins NTT DATA AIVista, Inc., bringing extensive experience in AI, infrastructure, platforms and solutions NTT DATA AIVista, Inc. established in Silicon Valley to help NTT operating companies accelerate the launch and scaling of AI native businesses NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, today announced the appointment of Dr. Bratin Saha as CEO of the newly established AI Company, NTT DATA AIVista, Inc., effective Dec 1, 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209189202/en/ Dr. Bratin Saha, newly appointed CEO of NTT DATA AIVista, Inc. Saha brings deep expertise in AI, infrastructure, platforms and solutions; scaling new businesses and significant ecosystem relationships. Prior to joining NTT DATA, he held executive positions at NVIDIA, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and most recently DigitalOcean. At NVIDIA, Saha served as Vice President of Software Infrastructu
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom