Thales has delivered a new, advanced unmanned surface vessel (USV) to the French Navy, marking a key milestone in the Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme. This delivery underscores the programme’s momentum and Thales’s role as a leading systems integrator in autonomous naval defence.
The newly delivered USV is equipped with a sophisticated suite of Thales sensors, including the TSAM towed sonar and the unique “multi-view” SAMDIS on-board sonar antenna. This combination provides an exceptional sea mine detection rate exceeding 99%, dramatically improving mission safety by removing personnel from hazardous environments. The system builds upon a first production unit delivered in late 2024, which included the USV, TSAM sonar, and AI-powered mission management software.
Developed in collaboration with the Couach shipyard, the design incorporates feedback from over 3,000 hours of sea trials with the French and British Royal Navies since 2021. The result is a resilient, cyber-secure unmanned system designed for sensitive operations. Its core software, M-Cube, integrates heterogeneous drones and uses artificial intelligence to streamline mission planning and sonar data analysis, significantly reducing operator workload.
Sébastien Guérémy, Vice-President for Underwater Systems at Thales, stated: “Thales is supporting the French Navy in its transition to a new mine countermeasures concept. This autonomous system boosts mission efficiency while limiting crew exposure to risk. With its high-performance sensors and innovative AI at the core, the MMCM programme is a world-first and a source of pride for our teams.”
Managed by OCCAR with support from France’s DGA and the UK MoD, the MMCM programme delivers a first-of-its-kind capability, ensuring operational superiority for naval forces facing increasingly complex underwater threats.
