Thales has achieved a major milestone with the receipt of its 100th order for the Combined Active-Passive Towed Array Sonar (CAPTAS) system. The order, placed by an undisclosed customer, highlights the global success of the company’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) solutions, trusted by numerous naval forces around the world.
The CAPTAS family, available in multiple variants, is a variable-depth sonar system that provides 360-degree active and passive long-range detection. It is capable of identifying submarines at ranges beyond 60 kilometers, giving naval operators the ability to detect and track underwater threats before they reach sensitive or restricted zones. This capability significantly enhances situational awareness and supports maritime defense operations in both deep-sea and littoral environments.
Currently deployed by 17 navies worldwide—including those of France, Italy, the UK, and the US—CAPTAS systems have become a standard across NATO fleets. Their interoperability allows integration with other naval sensors for coordinated underwater surveillance missions, improving the efficiency of multinational maritime operations.
The modular design of CAPTAS enables it to be installed on a wide range of vessels—from lightweight corvettes to large destroyers and support ships. A containerized mission module also allows for rapid deployment, ensuring flexibility for changing naval missions. The system integrates seamlessly with Thales’ Hull-Mounted Sonars, FLASH dipping sonar, and SonoFlash sonobuoys. Enhanced with AI-driven analysis and cyber-secure architecture, CAPTAS continues to evolve with modern mission needs, simplifying crew workload while improving decision-making and responsiveness.
