Thales UK’s world-class minehunting sonars are playing a vital role in the Royal Navy (RN) humanitarian operation to protect the people of Libya during the continuing civil unrest.
We are proud that sonars 2093 and 2193 continue to support such vital operations…”For the past three months HMS Brocklesby, a Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV), has been patrolling off the Libyan coast, keeping the sea lanes clear of any mines laid by pro-Government forces. The Hunt-class fleet is fitted with Thales’s Sonar 2193, the world’s most advanced hull-mounted wideband minehunting sonar.
Recently Brocklesby handed over NATO responsibility to HMS Bangor, a Sandown-class MCMV. The Sandown class operates with Sonar 2093, the most successful variable-depth multi-mode sonar in its field.
In a separate commitment the RN also maintains a joint Hunt-Sandown minehunting force in the Arabian Gulf to keep the busy sealanes clear of unexploded ordnance from previous conflicts in the region. The combined performance of the sonars in this operation has been described by the RN as ‘world beating’.
For the Libyan operation, the majority of Brocklesby’s time has been spent patrolling off Misurata, a city held by rebels but besieged by pro-Government forces.
Despite the threat of attack from artillery fire, rockets and missiles during her deployment, the MCMV used her Thales sonar and Seafox mine-disposal system to locate a mine that had been placed just a mile from the harbour entrance.
HMS Brocklesby’s Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Jim Byron, says: “The RN has always had a great reputation for mine clearance and it is precisely this type of operation that shows the world just how good we are.”
“We are extremely proud that we could use our skills and knowledge to open that port and allow humanitarian aid back into Libya where it is so desperately needed. Without this capability there could have been hundreds of lives lost through the detonation of that mine.”
Phil Naybour, head of Thales UK’s naval business, says: “The RN has the deserved reputation of being a global leader in mine warfare. We are proud that sonars 2093 and 2193 continue to support such vital operations with their proven, world-class capabilities.”
Thales is a global technology leader for the defence & security and the aerospace & transport markets. In 2010 the company generated revenues of £11.2 billion (€13.1 billion), with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. Thales UK employs 8,000 staff based at 35 locations. In 2010 Thales UK’s revenues were around £1.5 billion.
