Thales has delivered the world’s first fully autonomous maritime mine countermeasure system to the Royal Navy. The system was developed as part of the Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) program under the Joint Armament Cooperation Organization (OCCAr).
The system utilizes autonomous drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance precision and safety in mine countermeasure operations. It is designed to reduce the risk to personnel by keeping them at a distance from potential threats while ensuring the security of maritime routes.
The Royal Navy will receive four systems throughout the year. Each includes multiple integrated components, such as an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), an advanced towed sonar (TSAM) with multivision sonar (SAMDIS), a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), and a lightweight operations center (e-POC). These are supported by a secure command and control system.
Thales has also developed Mi-Map, a sonar analysis application that processes data up to four times faster, improving the detection and classification of underwater threats. The system is designed for deployment from both mother ships and coastal bases, with the capacity to manage large volumes of data and accelerate mine identification and neutralization.
The UK government sees the system as a step toward establishing the country as a leader in autonomous maritime technology. Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, highlighted its role in advancing mine-hunting capabilities while contributing to jobs in the defense sector.
Rebecca Smith, Member of Parliament for South West Devon, attended the official delivery ceremony at the Thales Maritime Autonomy Centre in Plymouth. She emphasized the significance of the technology for both naval operations and local economic growth.
Thales UK CEO Phil Siveter described the system as a milestone in naval defense, integrating AI and advanced sensors to enhance operational effectiveness.
Thales has been a long-term partner of the Royal Navy in sonar and mine countermeasure technology. The MMCM program reflects ongoing cooperation between the UK and France in developing advanced naval capabilities. The project has also supported over 200 skilled jobs, particularly at Thales sites in Somerset and Plymouth.