Sonar 2087

Sonar 2087 (sometimes shortened to S2087, part of an overall sonar product CAPTAS-4[1]) is a towed array sonar designed and manufactured by Thales Underwater Systems at sites in the UK (Crawley in West Sussex,[2] Cheadle Heath in Stockport, Templecombe in Somerset) and in France (Brest).[3] Sonar 2087 replaces the older Sonar 2031 in the Royal Navy and equips eight Type 23 frigates. The system is also equipped on the Royal Navy's Type 26 frigate fleet currently in production.[4] S2087 is also used on Chilean Type 23 frigates transferred from the Royal Navy, while CAPTAS-4 is used on French and Italian FREMM frigates, Spanish F110 frigates, and the US Navy FFG-62 Constellation-class frigates.[1][5]

It is a Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) and consists of both active and passive sonar arrays. Thales describes the system as "a towed-array that enables Type 23 frigates to hunt the latest submarines at considerable distances and locate them beyond the range at which they [submarines] can launch an attack."[6]

During Exercise Auriga in 2010, HMS Sutherland's capability equipped with Sonar 2087 was described as "world-beating" by the Sutherland's commanding officer. American, British, Canadian and French warships took part in the exercise, including the French nuclear submarine Perle.[7]

A new programme named Spearhead was launched in October 2022 to perform rapid development on Sonar 2087 to add new active and passive variable depth sonar capability to the existing system on Type 23 frigates.[8][9]

  1. ^ a b "CAPTAS Family". Thales Group. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  2. ^ "'Eyes and ears' contract keeps ships and submarines on the lookout" (PDF). Desider. No. 62. July 2013. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Royal Navy's latest warships to be equipped with Thales anti-submarine warfare capability". Thales Group. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  4. ^ Sweetman, Bill (15 October 2012). "Low Risk, Flexibility Drive Type 26 Design". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ Scott, Richard (14 January 2023). "Thales Started Production of CAPTAS-4 Sonar for US Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  6. ^ HMS Sutherlands sonar impresses on first major test, thalesgroup.com, 2010 [dead link]
  7. ^ Exercise Auriga, defpro.com Archived July 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "UK Spearhead plans accelerated capability insertion for Sonar 2087". Janes.com. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  9. ^ Allison, George (25 October 2022). "Royal Navy looking to quickly upgrade sonar on frigates". Retrieved 15 March 2023.