Thales Australia has opened a sonar manufacturing facility in Western Sydney to design, assemble and maintain towed-array systems for Australian naval and uncrewed maritime platforms.
Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, officially opened the facility this week.
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The new manufacturing hall forms part of the Thales Australia Acoustics Centre of Excellence and is the result of a joint multi-million-dollar investment between Thales Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia.
According to the company, the 100m hall is set to play a central role in the production of sonar technology fitted to the Hunter Class frigates, among other platforms.
These towed array sonar systems, which act as the “ears” for naval vessels and autonomous maritime systems, are key components for long-range submarine detection and maritime domain awareness.
Thales stated that the new facility will expand Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities with next-generation sonar that can be used on submarines, surface ships, and uncrewed maritime vehicles.
In addition to supporting the Hunter Class frigates, the hall will also provide systems for the Collins Class submarines and deliver thin-line towed arrays for advanced autonomous platforms.
With its capacity for end-to-end production and maintenance, the Rydalmere site is expected to help reduce reliance on overseas servicing and maximise operational availability for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The capacity for domestic sustainment was highlighted by Thales as a factor in increasing the fleet’s deployment times and maritime security.
Thales Australia indicated that the site will contribute to local job creation, providing new opportunities in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and across its supply chain partners over the coming years.
Thales Australia and New Zealand CEO Jeff Connolly said: “The capabilities developed and manufactured at Rydalmere demonstrate Australia’s ability to deliver sovereign undersea warfare technology, from the Collins Class submarine fleet of today to the Hunter Class frigates and autonomous BlueSentry surveillance systems of the future.
“Thales Australia is proud to design and deliver high-quality sensors that return best-quality data, allowing for quicker and better decisions that relate to national security.”
