Thales has announced the successful testing of a Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) prototype in operational configuration.
The MMCM programme was launched in 2010 with the aim of developing a prototype autonomous system for the detection and neutralisation of sea mines and underwater improvised explosive devices (UWIEDs).
Go deeper with GlobalData
Development of the unmanned mine countermeasures system-of-systems was carried out under a contract awarded in 2015 to Thales in collaboration with BAE Systems and their partners in France and the UK.
The MMCM prototype conducted the one-week minehunting mission off the coast of Brest.
Thales VP Underwater activities Alexis Morel said: “With this latest milestone, the MMCM programme has delivered the only operational system-of-systems of its kind in the world.
“This pioneering mission further consolidates Thales’s world leadership in both conventional mine countermeasures and the new generation of solutions based on a combination of autonomous and remotely operated systems.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData“This uniquely complex programme brings major innovations in the service of the safety of the seas, seafarers and citizens.”
During the maiden mission, the prototype used all the subsystems to finish four operational scenarios.
The first two scenarios involved an unmanned surface vessel (USV) and its volume search sonar and towed array sonar.
The third and fourth scenarios saw two unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) equipped with the SAMDIS sonar and the robotic mine neutralisation system.
In all these scenarios, the mission saw the positive detection of threats and the completion of the robotic neutralisation procedure of mines as intended.
FR/UK MMCM OCCAR programme manager Christophe Serrat said: “These operational scenarios at sea were very important to demonstrate interim operational capability performance of the MMCM prototype.
“Their achievement marks important progress towards achieving the start of the production phase, and we look forward to seeing the full operational capability demonstrated in Autumn this year.”
