Thales details US Navy mine-hunting technology

Thales has detailed the equipment being supplied to the US Navy under a $53.9 million Remote Mine Hunting (RMH) contract held by its American subsidiary, Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC). The programme covers two integrated modules combining synthetic aperture sonar, AI-assisted target recognition, mission management software, and remotely operated technology for underwater mine countermeasures.

The Navy awarded the initial contract on 5 August 2026, with the federal award record published in September. Thales provided further information about the integrated system on 2 November, identifying the sensing and software technologies included in its solution. Options for additional modules could increase the cumulative contract value from approximately $53.9 million to $196.2 million if exercised.

Advanced Acoustic Concepts, based in Great River, New York, specialises in underwater warfare equipment and engineering for naval customers. Its RMH work combines technologies from the wider Thales portfolio with equipment and integration capabilities developed in the United States. The two-module initial order includes engineering support alongside the production and delivery of the completed systems.

The RMH solution supports mine countermeasures operations by allowing underwater objects to be detected, located, and classified remotely. Naval mines may be placed on the seabed, within the water column, or in approaches used by military and commercial shipping. Their identification requires sensors capable of distinguishing potentially dangerous objects from natural features and debris within the surrounding environment.

Acoustic sensing is fundamental to that task because sound can be used to examine underwater environments where optical visibility is restricted. Sonar systems transmit acoustic energy and process returning signals to build information about objects and seabed features. The shape, size, orientation, and acoustic properties of an object influence the measurements obtained by the sensor.

The Thales module suite incorporates an advanced multiview towed synthetic aperture sonar system. Synthetic aperture processing combines acoustic measurements gathered as the sonar moves along a survey path, creating a larger effective sensing aperture through the reconstruction of successive observations. This approach supports detailed seabed imaging and improves the information available for examining small underwater objects.

Accurate reconstruction depends on knowledge of the sensor’s position and movement during data collection. The processing system uses observations gathered at different points to assemble a coherent acoustic image, with measurement quality and positioning accuracy influencing the resulting resolution. Those requirements connect the sonar hardware with navigation information and the signal processing used to interpret its returns.

The multiview arrangement adds observations of underwater objects from different directions. A contact that is difficult to interpret from one angle may present additional distinguishing features when examined from another. Combining those views can help the system separate potential mine targets from other objects in a cluttered environment, particularly where seabed contours or acoustic shadows complicate classification.

Thales identifies reduced false target rates among the intended benefits of the sonar technology. Its high-resolution imaging is designed to provide more useful information about detected objects before an operator decides whether further investigation is required. The effectiveness of that process depends on the survey conditions, the characteristics of the seabed, and the quality of the collected measurements.

The acoustic information is processed using AI-assisted Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) software. These applications analyse detected contacts and help operators classify objects, organise survey results, and manage mine-hunting data. Automated recognition provides an additional processing function within the workflow, using the characteristics of sonar imagery to identify contacts that warrant attention.

Classification remains dependent on the observations available. Objects can have similar acoustic appearances, while their orientation and surrounding conditions affect the information recorded by sonar. Bringing automated analysis together with operator assessment allows the mine-hunting team to examine contacts using the recorded imagery, associated positioning information, and other available evidence.

Mission management software connects those sensing and classification functions. The system must retain information about surveyed areas, detected contacts, positions, and the results of subsequent assessment. Maintaining consistent records helps operators distinguish locations already examined from those requiring further attention and supports the coordination of additional survey or investigation activity.

The programme follows the Navy’s established approach to finding, fixing, and finishing mine threats. Initial sensing establishes contacts that may represent mines, while localisation and classification provide information needed for subsequent action. Neutralisation is a distinct operational function that requires the appropriate equipment and authorisation after the potential threat has been assessed.

Thales identifies the future integration of remote neutralisation capabilities within its wider RMH approach. The newly detailed module suite includes sonar, automated classification, mission software, and remotely operated vehicle technology, with later neutralisation developments forming part of the company’s broader system direction. The current contract’s confirmed scope centres on two mine-hunting modules and engineering support.

Remote mine-hunting equipment allows sensing activity to be conducted at a distance from the personnel and vessels directing the operation. An underwater sensor can collect information from a survey area while the supporting naval platform remains further away. This separation is intended to reduce exposure during the initial stages of identifying and examining possible mine threats.

The module suite is designed to support operations involving crewed and uncrewed surface vessels. Integration with different host platforms requires compatible handling equipment, power supplies, communications, and mission-control interfaces. Sonar data and other information must be transferred and processed through the equipment arrangement selected for each operating platform.

Manufacturing and integrating the modules will involve combining underwater sensing equipment with control electronics, processing systems, software, and supporting mechanical assemblies. The completed equipment must be tested in its intended configuration before delivery and acceptance, with engineering support providing a means of addressing the technical requirements arising during the programme.

The two-module contract adds US Navy work to Thales’s international mine countermeasures portfolio. Its initial $53.9 million value covers the production requirement and associated engineering activity, while further modules remain dependent on contract options. Advanced Acoustic Concepts will undertake the work within the Navy’s existing procurement programme as the integrated equipment moves towards delivery.