Revolutionizing Polish Naval Defense: Thales and Leonardo Unveil Advanced Flash Sonics Sonar System for Anti-Submarine Operations
The Polish Navy is set to depend on Thales to outfit its helicopters with four FLASH SONICS. The FLASH system (Folding Light Acoustic System for Helicopters) is presently the premier dipping sonar on the global market, having established itself as the benchmark for the world’s leading navies.
To uphold dominance over their maritime territories and safeguard security interests internationally, naval forces require dependable, high-performance systems to function with maximum efficiency on assignments such as anti-submarine warfare, maritime search & rescue, defense of maritime approaches, and fleet protection for naval units in deployment. The FLASH system stands out as the top choice on the global market for dipping sonars, offering exceptional levels of protection acknowledged by numerous naval forces, including the US Navy, the UK Royal Navy, the French Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, as well as the navies of the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, the Philippines, and now Poland. To date, over 400 FLASH systems have been supplied to approximately twelve navies across the globe.
The primary advantages of this low-frequency wideband sonar encompass long-range detection capabilities with extensive sector coverage and minimal false alarm rates in both open seas and coastal regions. Coupled with an active and passive sonobuoy processing system, FLASH SONICS delivers unmatched anti-submarine warfare proficiency. Originally crafted for heavy helicopters such as the Merlin AW101 from Leonardo, selected by the Polish Navy, the system is also available in a compact variant featuring an electric motor for lighter helicopters like the AW159.
Thales and Leonardo have collaborated closely with local industry partners, including the Polish aerospace and defense equipment producer WZL1 and the Gdansk University of Technology (GUT), to fulfill the client’s specifications. This collaboration exhibits the Thales Group’s dedication and capacity to forge and sustain long-term alliances with local stakeholders. GUT and WZL1 will gain from technology transfers for sonar maintenance associated with this initiative.
