New Delhi: Maritime trade is of critical importance to the economies of Asia. With Singapore positioned at the heart of major global shipping routes, the need for security at the Straits remains a top priority for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
On March 28, 2025, Thales was awarded a contract through ST Engineering (STE) to provide the Republic of Singapore Navy with a Mine Counter Measures system, Pathmaster, which includes the M-Cube mission management system and TSAS towed sonars combined with the MiMap sonar data analysis tool, which will be fitted on ST Engineering’s unmanned surface vehicle.
Thales will also provide tools to manage mine databases and library. These will be reinforced with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate target detection and identification, easing the workload of operators. The system will be supported by the Thales Singapore Defence Hub for maintenance and service and to develop compatible applications that can seamlessly interface with the RSN’s systems.
As seas become increasingly congested and navies face unexpected threats and challenges, mine countermeasures have become a key discipline to ensure the sovereignty and safety of Singapore’s sea lines of communication.
The intelligent system is renowned for its incomparable level of detection and low false alarm rate. The Thales Pathmaster solution is the world’s first sea-proven system and is currently already in service with the British Royal Navy and the French Navy, under the Maritime Mine Countermeasure (MMCM) programme. This contract is the first Pathmaster contract for Thales in Asia.
Sébastien Gueremy, VP Underwater Systems, Thales, said, “This latest contract award reflects the trust that the Republic of Singapore Navy places in Thales’ naval technologies. The Pathmaster system represents a significant step in the RSN’s vision for an autonomous system of systems, offering enhanced operational capabilities while reinforcing the safety of their personnel. As the first Pathmaster system in the Asian region, Thales strengthens its position as a key supplier to the Navy, addressing the operational needs of the navy in this area. Having successfully delivered multiple radars for major vessel programs in the past, today we are excited to take it a step further to ensure that Singapore stays at the forefront of mine warfare in the region, safeguarding the nation’s maritime routes.”
