Thales has exported military grade piezoelectric ceramic from Australia to United States-based Massa Products.
“Massa is one of the true pioneering companies of sonar capability with a history stretching back over 80 years. We share a common value in respecting the role we both play in supporting and enabling our respective Navies to achieve their mission at sea. It is a pleasure to be able to collaborate with Massa in the provision of key components manufactured in Australia that will now go into their own sonar products and capabilities," Vice President – Underwater Systems, Avionics, Secure Communications & Information Systems (UVX), Thales in Australia, Troy Stephen, said.
Massa, based in Hingham, Massachusetts, has a long history in providing advancements and production of sonar and undersea warfare capability to the US and allied navies.
“Massa believes in strength and growth through collaboration and partnership. For the AUKUS partnership to truly be successful, it requires companies and governments to come together to support submarines and defence in new and innovative ways. Thales Australia and Massa Products Corporation share a leading and synergistic role in providing, creating and manufacturing the necessary sonar transducers and systems required to detect and defend life in the free world," President/CEO & CINO – Massa Products Corporation, Massa Stancavish, declared.
This collaboration has marked a step towards ensuring a robust supply chain in sonar capability between AUKUS partners.
The Australian produced piezoelectric ceramic will form a key component in the final production of advanced sonar transducers and products completed in the US by Massa.
The Thales Acoustic Centre of Excellence in Australia is a unique capability within the Australian defence industry and forms the basis of advanced sonar and towed array capabilities manufactured and sustained on a sovereign basis for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
This Centre of Excellence is housed within the Thales facility in Rydalmere, Western Sydney.