News DeskMeudon, France – Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC) has announced the successful delivery of the first CAPTAS-4 variable-depth sonar transmitter to the U.S. Navy’s Constellation Frigate Program (FFG-62). The delivery, which took place on October 12, 2023, was ahead of contractual milestones and under aggressive time constraints.
The CAPTAS-4, developed by Thales, is the most powerful sonar in the CAPTAS family and is recognized as the market leader in underwater variable depth active systems. The U.S. Navy selected Thales’ unrivaled sonar technology for its new frigates, built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
Thales, a trusted partner to navies worldwide, has over 50 years of experience in underwater warfare and is the leading sonar exporter globally. The CAPTAS family comprises a series of low-frequency variable-immersion sonars dedicated to anti-submarine warfare. The CAPTAS-4 has been tested under a wide range of operational conditions by the French, British, and Italian navies, and its technical maturity and performance are recognized worldwide.
In 2020, 2021, and 2022, several French multi-mission frigates equipped with the CAPTAS-4 system won the prestigious Hook’Em Award, an American prize for excellence in anti-submarine warfare. Thales was recognized for the excellence of its sonar systems’ ability to detect, locate, classify, and pursue increasingly stealthy and silent undersea threats.
Gwendoline Blandin-Roger, Vice President, Underwater Systems, Thales, said, “Thales is a long-time supplier of advanced and capable ASW systems to the U.S. Navy and major U.S. prime contractors. With this new contract for the delivery of CAPTAS-4 variable depth sonar, they are once again demonstrating the performance of our acoustic systems and renewing their confidence in our teams.”
Mike Carnovale, President and CEO of AAC, expressed pride in the successful delivery of the first CAPTAS-4 variable depth sonar system for the U.S. Navy’s FFG-62, the first of the new U.S. Frigate class. He added, “We look forward to further serving the U.S. Navy as we continue to supply and support this critical ASW capability well into the future.”
In addition to the two systems already ordered, up to eight additional CAPTAS-4 transmitters assemblies could be supplied under the current contract. AAC will complete construction on a new CAPTAS production facility at their current site near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in April. The new facility will handle the final assembly, integration, and acceptance testing for shipsets two through ten.
