Another major milestone has been achieved for NuShip Hunter with the successful factory acceptance test (FAT) of the towed body handling system (TBHS) and towed array handling system (TAHS) for its Sonar 2087 suite.

The FAT was conducted at the Thales Defence Mission Systems facility in Brest, France, with representatives from Thales France, Thales UK, Thales Australia and the Royal Australian Navy in attendance.

Commander Roy Casson, representing Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, said: “The TBHS and TAHS, in addition to the associated auxiliary systems, performed well in accordance with the detailed test procedures.

“The multinational Thales teams provided diligent and rigorous oversight to ensure the product met its design intent and is ready to deliver this world-leading capability to Navy for many years to come.”

Sonar 2087, the British-developed variant of the Thales CAPTAS-4 system, combines active and passive sonar arrays to detect, locate, and classify submarines at ranges up to 60 kilometres. 

Offering 360-degree situational awareness and real-time torpedo alerts, it significantly enhances Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. 

Integrated into the Hunter-class frigates, this advanced sonar forms part of a broader suite of sensors and weapons that will deliver a potent undersea warfare capability, designed to counter next-generation submarines and safeguard Australia’s maritime interests for decades to come.

With testing complete, the systems are scheduled for delivery to Australia in the first quarter of 2026 for integration into Hunter, marking a significant step towards the vessel’s planned early 2030s delivery.