By akademiotoelektronik, 18/02/2023

A drone boat could replace mine hunters, an innovation from Thales Brest

Economy - Social-

By Valérie Le Nigen, France Bleu Breizh Izel, France Bleu Armorique, France Bleu

Brest

A surface drone, developed by Thales, was demonstrated this Friday in the harbor of Brest. This unmanned, totally remote-controlled boat releases and recovers sonars in the fight against mines. The French and British navies will test it from 2020.

The weather is not looking good at the moment in the harbor of Brest. But obviously, this type of drone is designed to deal with it. Thales organized this Friday morning in the harbor of Brest a demonstration of a prototype surface drone. This drone can drop and retrieve sonars to locate mines. The demonstration at sea took place with a pilot because the legislation does not yet allow it to be done without it. This was followed by a demonstration in the pool.

To view this Twitter content, you must accept Social Network cookies. These cookies allow you to share or react directly on the social networks to which you are connected or to integrate content originally posted on these social networks. They also allow social networks to use your visits to our sites and applications for the purposes of personalization and advertising targeting.

Manage my choices

Replace mine hunters

"Today, most minehunters are at their wit's end," observes Guy Le Bihan, technical director of the program, based at Thales Brest. “We are offering a surface drone that accurately drops and retrieves sonar. This has two advantages: avoiding risks for sailors and reducing costs. So obviously this can be of interest to navies all over the world.”

An adaptation of the legislation?

In the short term, this drone cannot be used in France. The legislation does not yet allow boats to sail without a pilot, but Guy Le Bihan is confident: "there is a maritime cluster which is underway and which is piloted by Thales. There are others at European level and at the world level and it is moving forward at a rapid pace.”

Brest pride, and perhaps repercussions for employment

This prototype will be tested by the French and British navies from April 2020. Then, Thales, which employs 80,000 people in the world, including 1100 in Brest, hopes to be able to produce a series for the French Navy and a series for the British Navy. And obviously, to other navies in a second time. "It's a great pride for Brest because this prototype is unique in the world" smiles Guy Le Bihan. "And obviously, when we have several systems to provide, the impact will be beneficial for Brest."

Valérie Le NigenFrance Bleu Breizh Izel