Thales has secured a contract to equip the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) with an advanced autonomous mine countermeasures system, Pathmaster.
The contract has been awarded through ST Engineering (STE).
The Pathmaster solution is a sea-proven solution designed to allow Navy to accurately detect, classify, and localise mines in the region’s one of the busiest maritime straits.
It comprises Towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (TSAS), the MiMap sonar data analysis tool and the M-Cube mission management system.
These technologies will be installed on STE’s uncrewed surface vehicle.
As part of the agreement, Thales will also supply AI-enabled tools designed to manage mine databases and libraries.
The inclusion of AI is intended to enhance the accuracy of target detection and identification, reducing the cognitive load on operators.
Thales Underwater Systems vice-president Sébastien Gueremy said: “The Pathmaster system represents a significant step in the RSN’s vision for an autonomous system of systems, offering enhanced operational capabilities while reinforcing the safety of their personnel.
“As the first Pathmaster system in the Asian region, Thales strengthens its position as a key supplier to the Navy, addressing the operational needs of the navy in this area.
“Having successfully delivered multiple radars for major vessel programs in the past, today we are excited to take it a step further to ensure that Singapore stays at the forefront of mine warfare in the region, safeguarding the nation’s maritime routes.”
Thales Singapore Defence Hub will be responsible for maintenance and servicing of the system. The hub will also support the development of compatible applications that can integrate seamlessly with existing RSN systems.
Currently, the Pathmaster system is operational with the British Royal Navy and the French Navy under the Maritime Mine Countermeasure (MMCM) programme.
The contract marks the first deployment of Thales’ Pathmaster in Asia.
Recently, Thales UK signed an agreement with SEA as part of the Maritime Sensor Enhancement Team (MSET) programme.
