The SonoFlash sonobuoy, designed and manufactured in France in collaboration with French small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offers both active and passive sonar modes. It is equipped with a powerful low-frequency emitter and a highly directional receiver, allowing for precise underwater detection.
Deployed from maritime patrol aircraft such as the ATL2 or helicopters like the NH90, the sonobuoy will enhance the French Navy’s ability to detect and track submarines. Its interoperability with Thales’ FLASH dipping sonar and CAPTAS towed array sonars further strengthens its effectiveness in naval operations.
Thales’ high-performance communication systems enable data collected by the SonoFlash to be transmitted to all surface ships, aircraft, and acoustic support centres equipped with a sonobuoy processing system. This ensures a comprehensive and coordinated response to submarine threats.
By combining SonoFlash with the FLASH dipping sonar, airborne platforms can conduct wider searches and react more effectively to submarine evasive manoeuvres. This integration significantly boosts the operational efficiency of France’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Sébastien Guérémy, Vice President of Underwater Systems activities at Thales, highlighted the global recognition of the company’s expertise in underwater defence. “Through its SonoFlash sonobuoy and the CAPTAS and FLASH sonars, Thales is proud to contribute to the development of the French anti-submarine warfare sector. The excellence of Thales’s offerings in this field is recognised worldwide and is being put to the service of the French Navy in a context of renewed tensions at sea,” he said.
