Thales and Arkeocean have launched a collaboration to develop a cost-effective underwater solution that can be deployed from small tactical boats to counter naval mines.
Combining French underwater robotics company Arkeocean’s expertise in autonomous underwater vehicles with Thales’ experience in military warheads, the initiative aims to address the evolving mine warfare requirements of naval forces. Designed to be compact and adaptable to different operational conditions, the system is intended for deployment from small tactical boats and use in various environments, including inland waterways. The collaboration also aims to expand Thales’ portfolio of mission systems compatible with its Expeditionary PathMaster solution.
Thales and Arkeocean Collaborate on Mine Clearance Using Unmanned Systems
As the threat posed by seabed mines increases, naval forces are seeking agile and lightweight solutions capable of adapting to different operational environments. The solution being developed focuses on reducing risks to vessels and crews by enabling mine clearance operations to be conducted remotely. In this context, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) can be used for tasks such as surveillance, approach and intervention. Controlled from a support vessel, an ROV can approach a mine and enable its remote neutralisation.
M Platform’s Mine Countermeasure Capabilities
Designed by Arkeocean as a multi-mission underwater vehicle for different operational requirements, the M Platform can operate remotely or autonomously depending on operational conditions. Its modular architecture, based on interchangeable payloads, allows it to perform various missions. Thales aims to extend the operational chain with a dedicated mine countermeasure payload and integrate it into the broader Detect, Classify, Localize, Identify and Neutralize (DCLIN) process. The collaboration is expected to expand the M Platform’s potential applications in mine countermeasures.
The S-HEB warhead, part of the BlueSliver family developed at Thales’ facility in La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, France, is designed to neutralise naval mines while prioritising operator safety. BlueSliver warheads have been developed for integration into various compatible platforms and to deliver effects suited to the targeted threats. By leveraging the open architecture of Expeditionary PathMaster, Thales aims to combine warhead technologies with underwater vehicles and further develop its mine countermeasure solutions.
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Source: C4Defence– Thales
