In a significant milestone for the Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme, Thales has delivered an advanced unmanned surface vehicle (USV) to the French Navy. This delivery, managed by OCCAR with support from the French DGA and the UK MoD, underscores Thales’s strong industrial commitment and dynamic role in this strategic initiative.
This system is the second production unit, following an initial delivery in December 2024. It comprises a sophisticated surface naval drone equipped with two key Thales sonars: the TSAM towed sonar and the unique SAMDIS “multi-view” sonar antenna. The complete solution also includes the M-Cube mission management system and MiMap data analysis software, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI).
The primary objective of this unmanned system is to revolutionize naval mine countermeasures. It dramatically enhances operational performance by removing personnel from hazardous minefields, thereby minimizing human exposure. The system delivers an exceptional sea mine detection rate exceeding 99%, granting naval forces a decisive operational superiority against modern, complex threats. This capability is the result of close collaboration with the Couach shipyard and incorporates feedback from the French Navy and Royal Navy, which have been testing prototypes since 2021. Over 3,000 hours of sea trials have been used to refine the systems, demonstrating Thales’s expertise as a master systems integrator.
This delivery represents a world-first capability for maritime defence, integrating a suite of advanced technologies. The system features very high-performance sensors, a cyber-resilient architecture approved for sensitive operations, and robust, secure communication links. At its core is unique mission planning and data analysis software designed to optimize workflows and reduce the cognitive load on operators.
As Sébastien Guérémy, Vice-President for Thales’s Underwater Systems, stated, the company is proud to support the French Navy’s transition to a new operational concept. The autonomous system significantly improves mission efficiency while protecting crews, with the M-Cube software enabling the fast integration of heterogeneous drones, high-performance sensors, and innovative AI algorithms. This programme is a source of pride and a testament to unwavering commitment, marking a new era in autonomous maritime defence.
