Anti-mine solutions

A team led by BAE Systems, DCNS and Thales is in the lead in a competition for a study to develop an unmanned underwater system to fight against sea mines, a key project for Anglo-French defense cooperation, three industry executives said.

An evaluation is under way for a selection, with French firm iXBlue and the UK unit of German specialist group Atlas Elektronik partnered as the competitor in the bilateral tender.

The offer from BAE, DCNS and Thales "is well positioned," one of the executives said. The latter company, which leads the team, will draw on its British unit.

Best and final offers were due in October, a fourth industry source said.

At the Jan. 31 Anglo-French summit last year, the British government said an agreement had been reached "on a £10 million contract for the development of underwater vehicles capable of finding and neutralizing seabed mines."

France Evaluates Bids for Anti-Mine Study