Thales Underwater Systems

Thales Underwater Systems
Company type	Division
Industry	Defense electronics
Predecessor	Thomson Sintra ASM, Thomson CSF DASM, Thomson Marconi Sonar
Founded	2001
Fate	Became fully owned subsidiary of Thales Group in 2001
Headquarters	Sophia Antipolis, France
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Denis Ranque (former CEO of predecessor joint venture)
Products	Sonar technologies for submarines, surface warships, aircraft; submarine communication masts and related systems
Owner	Thales Group
Number of employees	2,100 (2006)
Parent	Thales Group

Thales Underwater Systems (TUS), previously known as Thomson Sintra ASM, Thomson CSF DASM, and Thomson Marconi Sonar, is a division of the French defense electronics corporation Thales Group. Established in 2001 within Thales' naval sector, the company focuses on designing and producing sonar technologies for submarines, surface warships, and aircraft, as well as submarine communication masts and related systems. Its main office is located in Sophia Antipolis, France.

TUS functions through three subsidiaries: TUS SAS based in France (with facilities in Brest and Aubagne), TUS Ltd. situated in the United Kingdom (operating from Cheadle Heath and Templecombe), and TUS Pty located in Australia, all operating collectively as a single entity.

In 2006, TUS achieved revenues of €400 million and employed around 2,100 staff members.

Background

The creation of Thomson Marconi Sonar in 1996 resulted from combining the sonar divisions of French defense electronics company Thomson-CSF and British firm GEC-Marconi, with Thomson-CSF holding a 50.1% majority stake and GEC-Marconi owning 49.9%. Denis Ranque was named chief executive officer. This joint venture consisted of three operational units:

The French operation, Thomson Sintra, was Europe's leading defense sonar provider and ranked second worldwide after Lockheed Martin Loral, generating annual sales of 1.5 billion francs—comprising 35% from submarine sonar systems, 27% from anti-submarine warfare, 18% from airborne sonars, and 15% from mine warfare solutions.
The British division merged GEC-Marconi's sonar unit (with yearly sales around £90 million) alongside the jointly held Ferranti Thomson Sonar Systems (approximately 400 million francs in revenue).
The Australian branch, TMS Pty, encompassed regional operations from both parent companies.

After the 1999 merger that combined GEC's defense arm Marconi Electronic Systems with British Aerospace to create BAE Systems, BAE acquired the 49.9% interest in TMS. Subsequently, through an options agreement, BAE required Thomson-CSF (later renamed Thales) to purchase its stake in 2001, resulting in TUS becoming a fully owned subsidiary of Thales.

Sophia Antipolis

The corporate headquarters of Thales Underwater Systems is situated in Sophia Antipolis, southern France, maintaining its status as a principal location alongside Brest dating back to the Thomson Sintra period.

Brest

Since the 1960s, Brest has served as a pivotal center for Thales’ naval operations. Founded in 1963 to develop airborne and underwater combat technologies, this site manufactured military electronic devices including France’s inaugural maritime patrol radar system introduced in 1965.

Currently, Brest emphasizes research and development activities with roughly 1,000 engineers among its total workforce of about 1,600 employees (as of 2013). Its main areas include mine warfare, submarine warfare, electronic warfare, and airborne maritime patrol and surveillance. Notable products encompass mine countermeasure sonars, sonar buoy data processing systems, and dipping sonars used for detecting submarines.

TUS Ltd. (United Kingdom)

TUS Ltd. primarily conducts operations from two locations: Cheadle Heath near Stockport and Templecombe in Somerset. In 2006, it reported revenues close to £85 million supported by a workforce of 853 personnel.

Cheadle Heath

Founded in 1977 as an offshoot of Ferranti Military Systems Division, the Cheadle Heath facility focused on developing training simulators, communication equipment, and sonar display interfaces. The site's sonar technology capabilities broadened to include digital signal processing, algorithm design, display generation, simulation, and computer interface development.

Expertise in sonar arrays was further strengthened through acquisitions. The Sonar Systems Group expanded considerably, securing contracts such as components of the sonar 2054 system. After Ferranti declared bankruptcy in 1993, a joint venture between Ferranti’s liquidators and Thomson-CSF established Ferranti Thomson Sonar Systems. Subsequently, GEC-Marconi purchased Ferranti’s stake, forming Thomson Marconi Sonar Systems.

Previously, FTSS operated outstations at Weymouth and Church Crookham dedicated to specialized sonar systems; both locations have since ceased operations. Currently, the Cheadle Heath site functions as a central hub for the Underwater and Information Systems divisions.

Templecombe

The Templecombe branch of TUS traces its origins to 1965 when it began as the Marine Systems Research Unit within Plessey Company’s Marine Systems Division. Over time, it evolved through various names including Plessey Marine Research Unit and Plessey Naval Systems, concentrating on sonar and related technologies. Initially located at Uppark Drive Ilford from 1961, earlier sonar manufacturing and support (such as for Type 195 and Mark 44 torpedo systems) were conducted there before relocating to Newport, Wales. Eventually, the headquarters transitioned to Templecombe.

During the 1970s, Plessey acquired Ameeco Hydrospace—a specialist in towed array technology with facilities in Andover and Gillingham—with operations later centralized at Newport after closing the Andover site. In 1989, GEC-Marconi (GEC’s defense division) took over Plessey Naval Systems and merged it with Marconi Underwater Systems Ltd.

Following the early 1990s joint venture between Thomson-CSF and Ferranti (Ferranti Thomson Sonar Systems), GEC-Marconi acquired Ferranti’s share. This led to the consolidation of Thomson and GEC-Marconi sonar divisions into Thomson Marconi Sonar (TMS).

After the 1999 merger of Marconi Electronic Systems with British Aerospace, which created BAE Systems, BAE held a 49.9% stake in TMS but divested this interest to Thales (formerly Thomson-CSF) in 2001. Consequently, TMS was rebranded as Thales Underwater Systems, while the original Marconi Underwater Systems Ltd component became part of BAE Systems. Templecombe then emerged as TUS Ltd’s principal UK facility.

The initial Templecombe location at Wilkinthroop House expanded by incorporating an adjacent former railway yard on Throop Road; due to space constraints, operations were consolidated at Throop Road and Wilkinthroop House was sold off. Testing activities alternated between a flooded quarry at Waterlip and a site at Vobster owing to operational difficulties. Manufacturing activities shifted back from Newport to Templecombe following Newport’s closure.

Other associated sites included Bath for Prime Contract Management—situated near MoD offices prior to their relocation to DESG MoD Abbey Wood—and a Joint Plessey Ferranti Office at Portland supporting the Admiralty Research Establishment; both have since been closed. Additionally, Plessey Naval Systems maintained a US support office in Carlsbad, California.

Church Crookham

The Church Crookham location, a smaller Ferranti Thomson Sonar Systems facility now part of Thales, was responsible for the manufacturing and testing of towed array and submarine flank sonar systems. It also included a design division and handled specialized projects. This site played a role in the development of Sonar 2076 and performed acoustic calibration services for naval vessels. The facility has since been closed.

Meadowbank

Serving as the primary production site until 1995, Meadowbank's operations were subsequently transferred to Rydalmere. The Meadowbank premises have been shut down and transformed into residential housing.

Rydalmere

Currently functions as the headquarters for TUS in Australia.

Products

Dipping sonar systems (e.g., Merlin helicopter)
Minehunting sonars such as Type 2093, Type 2193, TSM 2022 Mk3
Sonar Type 2016 for surface vessels (initially for Type 22 Frigates)
Sonar Type 2020 utilized on Trafalgar and Swiftsure class submarines
Surface ship mine and obstacle avoidance sonar (TSM 5424 Petrel)
Conventional submarine sonar systems (S Cube SSK)
Surface ship towed array sonar arrays (Sonar 2087, CAPTAS)
Medium frequency anti-submarine warfare sonar (Spherion)
Torpedo detection and sonar systems (Sea Defender)
Submarine sonar (Type 2076)
Underwater communication sonars
Sonobuoy devices and processing equipment
Sonar for swimmer detection
Synthetic aperture sonar technology (DUBM-44)
Sonar for unmanned underwater vehicles
Autonomous and towed training sources
Submarine communication masts and deployable buoys
Antennas mounted on vehicles
SATCOM antenna systems

Sites