18 March 2021

France commits to SonoFlash active/passive sonobuoy

by Richard Scott

France’s Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) has contracted Thales for the full development, qualification, and production of the SonoFlash combined active/passive A-size sonobuoy to meet the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) needs of the French Navy.

SonoFlash is intended to meet the French Navy’s future airborne ASW requirements. (Thales)

The development and fielding of SonoFlash is intended to meet the French Navy’s future airborne ASW requirements by affording increased flexibility for future multistatic operations. At the same time, the programme re-establishes a sovereign onshore source of supply for sonobuoy production. France currently relies on US-manufactured sonobuoys.

Sonobuoys are traditionally either active (transmitting) or passive (receiving). SonoFlash has taken a novel approach in that it combines both active and passive modes.

The active component, based on four compact high-power transducers, ultilises hardware sourced from Thales’ underwater business in Rydalmere, Australia. The frequency band is compatible with the company’s FLASH active dipping sonar to enable co-operative operations in a multistatic field.

For the passive element, SonoFlash adopts a design that mirrors the concept of the BARRA passive localisation sonobuoy, which deploys a horizontal array of hydrophones mounted on five extending telescopic arms, at a set operating depth. While the array employed by SonoFlash is not as large, it is still able to deliver very good directional performance, according to Thales.

The company adds that the SonoFlash buoy can be commanded to change its setting via a UHF command radio link. Maximum battery life is eight hours.

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