Underwater alliance

DRS Technologies and the Thales Group announced yesterday that have formed DRS Sonar Systems, LLC, a DRS majority-owned joint venture company with Thales North America.

The company will focus on undersea warfare systems (UWS) for defence and homeland security in order to become a preferred provider of UWS solutions for US and foreign military forces.

DRS Sonar Systems will manufacture undersea warfare products and systems under license from Thales and serve as the point of contact for sales and support in the United States.

The new company also will develop new underwater systems tailored to US Navy requirements by integrating subsystems from other contractors and Thales’ product base.

‘This alliance with Thales provides DRS with an entry into the growing underwater systems market, and adds another critical capability to our strong portfolio of products and services we provide the US Navy," commented Richard Danforth, president of DRS‚ Command, Control and Communications Strategic Business Unit.