Thales has unveiled a novel deployable anti-mine system, crafted to empower naval forces to execute comprehensive missions from a diverse array of platforms, as stated by the firm.
Dubbed Expeditionary PathMaster, this solution is built around a mobile command hub, facilitating mine warfare duties from shore, minor craft, mine-sweeping vessels, or other ships. It is engineered to bolster a blended methodology, merging both manned and unmanned apparatus, including independent robotic assets from external providers.
The system leverages technology previously supplied to the French Navy and integrates functionalities that Thales asserts have also been employed by the British Navy and additional global clients.
Its central component is a mobile deployable operations centre, enabling swift placement and oversight of anti-mine operations in challenging or advanced operational zones. The system has already been showcased alongside the Lithuanian Navy, where it linked up autonomous underwater vehicles, tele-operated craft, and traditional minehunting ships.
Thales indicated that the system utilizes its cortAIx artificial intelligence framework to expedite acoustic data analysis and enhance identification precision. Its Mi-Map analytical instrument is engineered to process sonar data up to four times faster than standard setups, with a purported 99% categorization exactitude. This is coupled with the M-Cube mission management system, which empowers operators to execute and observe multiple acoustic analysis assignments concurrently, offering instantaneous feedback on identified targets and operational advancement.
The company frames this solution as integral to a transition towards decentralized and self-governing anti-mine operations, where compact, portable units can function autonomously or in conjunction with conventional platforms.
Sébastien Guérémy, VP, Subsea Solutions at Thales, remarked: “As seas become ever more disputed and maritime forces encounter unforeseen dangers and difficulties, anti-mine strategies are now a vital field to safeguard the independence and security of essential facilities and maritime trade routes.”
He further explained that the system offers a complete, ready-to-use solution, merging modularity, expandability, and artificial intelligence to aid naval activities.
Thales has been a leader in the anti-mine sector for over half a century, providing solutions crafted to locate, categorize, pinpoint, and neutralize subsea dangers in intricate settings. The firm announced Expeditionary PathMaster is ready for immediate implementation.