Marshall wins 14 year contract from Thales to produce sonar modules for Royal Navy
Marshall has received a long-term contract from Thales UK to manufacture, maintain and support key …
Advanced structures and components
Marshall is a globally respected provider of advanced structures and complex subsystems that meet stringent engineering requirements across civil and military applications. Building on decades of experience, we develop and deliver durable and robust structures and complex subsystems for the most extreme land-based and maritime environments, considering both current and future mission requirements.
Whether working from pre-defined user requirements or from a blank slate as a UK CAA Part 21J Design Organisation, few companies can match Marshall’s depth of expertise and breadth of capabilities. Our NADCAP-accredited engineering team includes structural, electrical, interior, integration, systems, stress, weight, aerodynamics and avionics designers.
Our state-of-the-art site in Cambridge has been awarded top supplier status by Boeing for our ability to deliver on time and to the highest quality and safety standards.
No matter how bespoke, complex or challenging their requirements, we take projects all the way from specification and design through to manufacturing, testing, qualification, integration and support. We are able to flexibly scale to meet project needs – whether producing a one-off prototype or thousands of units over a yearslong production run.
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Design
- Systems design
- Design engineering
- Tooling design
- CATIA programming
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Manufacturing
- 3D printing/additive manufacturing
- Sheet metal fabrication
- Milling and turning (CNC and manual)
- Welding
- Prepreg
- Resin infusion
- Filament winding
- Laser wire printing
- Curing
- Trimming
- Tool and cutter grinding
- Chemical processing
- Thermal processing/heat treatment
- Painting
- Engraving
- Pipework
- Composite assembly
- Mechanical assembly
- Electrical assembly
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Testing
- Model-based systems engineering (MBSE)
- Ground/static testing (rig testing)
- CMM and manual inspection
- Structural analysis, including fatigue and damage tolerance
- Flammability exposure testing
- Factory acceptance testing
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Qualification
- Performance and design certification
- Testing verification
- Supply chain qualification
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Integration
- Fluid dynamics integration
- Control logic integration
- Electrical integration
- Line Replaceable Units (LRUs)
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Support
- Spares
- Non-standard repairs
- Technical documentation
Submarine structures
Marshall manufactures, maintains and supports key components of anti-submarine sonar arrays under a long-term contract from Thales UK, providing a critical edge for the UK’s Royal Navy.
We are proud of our position as a leading supplier for two of Thales’ most advanced sonar suites, Sonar 2076 and Sonar 2087. The former is equipped on Astute class submarines in addition to the next-generation Dreadnought class, while the latter is in use on existing Type 23 frigates and will also be equipped on their upcoming replacement, the Type 26, including variants for export.
Production and in-service support is undertaken by Marshall’s Advanced Manufacturing Solutions business line in Cambridge, UK.
“We are delighted to award Marshall a prominent role in our supply chain for the world’s most advanced sonar suites in recognition of their outstanding technical capabilities and exemplary level of support for flagship UK defence programmes.
“Our collaboration with supply chain partners like Marshall is critical to the continued success of Thales and the Royal Navy’s Maritime Sensor Enhancement Team (MSET) programme, delivering round the clock equipment availability and resilience.”
Steven Lockley
Managing Director, Underwater Systems, Thales UK
Built to withstand the extremes of an undersea operating environment, our structures are corrosion-resistant, giving them increased durability and enabling them to last extended periods of time in a saltwater.
Through-life support
We meet our through-life commitments with programmes that provide the evidence needed to underwrite safe operation throughout the life of a component or structure.
We have the experience and capability to produce, procure and test spares at both platform and system level, drawing on our in-house production expertise and mature global supply chain.
We can undertake all aspects of component repair and overhaul, with all repairs designed to maintain structural integrity while reducing fatigue.
Supply chain management
We manage the global supply chain for our advanced structures and components materials, leveraging our long-term relationships with equipment and material OEMs to provide the required expertise at the right time in the right place.
Our supply chain processes are audited to exacting industry standards and our extensive knowledge of export regulations, including ITAR, helps ensure we maintain a compliant, sustainable and socially responsible procurement process.
We offer extensive warehouse and distribution services, with our warehouse team undertaking all goods receipts, inspection, storage and handling of parts, including dangerous goods.
