Thales UK has contracted Marshall for the production, maintenance, and support of essential components within anti-submarine sonar arrays for the UK’s Royal Navy.
Spanning from 2025 to 2039, the long-term contract positions Marshall as a primary provider for both Sonar 2076 and Sonar 2087 systems.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The Sonar 2076 system is installed on Astute-class submarines and will be featured in the forthcoming Dreadnought-class vessels.
Meanwhile, Sonar 2087 is operational on the existing Type 23 frigates and will be installed on the future Type 26 frigates, including their export variants.
In 2020, Thales secured a £330m ($442m) deal to furnish the Royal Navy Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD) submarines, the Dreadnought-class, with the Sonar 2076 system and a combat system mast.
Thales UK Underwater Systems managing director Steven Lockley said: “Our collaboration with supply chain partners like Marshall is critical to the continued success of Thales and the Royal Navy’s Maritime Sensor Enhancement Team (MSET) programme, delivering round the clock equipment availability and resilience.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“This partnership not only enhances operational capability, but also supports jobs, innovation and investment in the UK’s maritime sector and ensures that platforms equipped with Sonar 2076 and Sonar 2087 remain at the forefront of anti-submarine warfare.”
Marshall’s Advanced Manufacturing Solutions division, previously known as Aerostructures, will handle the production and in-service support for this latest contract from its Cambridge facility in the UK.
This business unit is also responsible for assembling auxiliary fuel tanks for the Boeing P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft, another component of the UK’s anti-submarine warfare and maritime protection strategy.
Marshall Engineering Businesses CEO Gareth Williams said: “In addition to reinforcing our highly successful partnership with Thales, this new contract underscores Marshall’s position as a global authority on complex subsystem assembly.”
To accommodate the production of sonar array modules, Marshall will leverage its existing in-house capabilities and knowledge.
Additionally, both Marshall and Thales are set to invest in specialised tooling, electrical assembly, testing equipment, and facilities at the Cambridge site to support this initiative.
