ALFS dipping sonar on MH-60R helicopter. Credit: © Lockheed Martin.

As a tier-one supplier to Lockheed, Thales will install the airborne low frequency sonar (ALFS) dipping sonars on the MH-60R helicopter platform for the US Navy.

The navies of India, Greece and Denmark will also receive the ALFS helicopter dipping sonars under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

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Delivery of the first 42 sonars will occur over the next five years, while delivery of the remaining 13 optional systems is expected to occur in the sixth year.

The MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft.

Since the early 2000s, Thales has delivered over 300 ALFS sonars to the US Navy.

Under the latest contract with Lockheed Martin, Thales will continue to support the readiness strategy of the US Navy.

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Thales Underwater systems vice-president Alexis Morel said: “Earning the trust of the US Navy and its allies and partners around the globe is a source of pride for our team.

“This contract enhances our position as a strategic supplier to Lockheed Martin and further consolidates the Group’s world leadership position in anti-submarine warfare systems.

“We will continue to improve the performance and competitiveness of our airborne sonars to meet the new anti-submarine warfare operational challenges of our customers.”

The ALFS ASW system is capable of detecting, prosecuting, harassing, or attacking submarines.

The navies of Australia, the UK, France, Norway, Sweden, the UAE, Poland, South Korea and the Philippines are the other navies that have chosen Thales’ dipping sonar solutions.

Lockheed Martin and Thales Australia recently agreed to develop booster and rocket motor technology for the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) – Surface Launch (SL) variant.

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