Thales has announced a strategic co-development agreement with Febus Optics aimed at creating advanced monitoring solutions for critical undersea infrastructure (CUI). This collaboration brings together the extensive expertise of both French firms to address the growing needs of the CUI protection market, which has seen heightened urgency in recent years, particularly following the acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in September 2022.
As geopolitical tensions rise, the protection and monitoring of vital undersea infrastructure have emerged as essential priorities. Thales emphasized the importance of overcoming technological challenges in delivering effective CUI protection solutions. The company stated in a press release that the challenges associated with monitoring extensive installations such as communication cables, power lines, and pipelines, which often span vast distances and operate under extreme environmental conditions, necessitate innovative approaches to ensure their security and integrity.
To enhance the capabilities of its existing BlueGuard surveillance system, Thales will incorporate Febus Optics’ Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology. This integration will allow for comprehensive monitoring of sensitive coastal areas and identify potential threats, including unmanned underwater vehicles. The DAS technology developed by Febus Optics employs optical fiber sensing cables to detect acoustic signals in real-time, relying on the principle of light backscattering to reflect sound waves and vibrations back to their source. This method enables constant monitoring of the entire infrastructure, facilitating early detection and precise geolocation of any anomalies.
Thales intends to leverage its significant background in sonar array design and acoustic signal analysis to augment the proposed solution, thereby enhancing the overall efficacy of the monitoring system for undersea installations. This partnership marks a significant step forward in developing robust protective measures for crucial undersea resources, aligning with the increasing demand for effective solutions in this evolving security landscape.
