Cohort plc company SEA has showcased its role as a leading supplier of Torpedo Launch Systems (TLS) at a UK defence services industry day on board the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland in Pyeongtaek naval base, South Korea.
SEA has supplied its TLS to recent and ongoing programmes for the Royal Thai Navy, Royal Malaysian Navy and Philippines Navy, and used the industry day to highlight its capability to leading South Korean shipbuilders.
SEA worked with shipbuilders DSME in supplying triple stack trainable NATO standard lightweight TLS for the Royal Thai Navy’s DW3000F Class frigate. The company is currently working with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) supplying similar TLS for two new HDF-3000 frigates being built for the Philippines Navy.
HMS Sutherland was a highly appropriate venue for the industry event as SEA was able to demonstrate to visitors its wealth of experience in manufacturing and supporting the RN TLS fitted to Type 23 frigates.
Besides its TLS, SEA also used the industry day to highlight its capabilities in decoy launcher systems, above and below the water communications, Echo sounders and its leading edge technology thin line KraitArray, towed Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) sonar. The latter has attracted considerable interest in South East Asia, where its deployment via SEA’s Krait Defence System is viewed as an attractive ASW asset for smaller vessels.
More than 100 visitors attended the industry day, including representatives from the Republic of Korea Navy and potential Korean industry partners and distributors. SEA was one of 13 UK companies in attendance.
SEA’s South East Asia Vice President, Strategic Accounts, David Hinds commented that the event to showcase the best in British defence equipment was a considerable success, with the region representing a huge area of opportunity for SEA.
He added: “With Korean shipyards building and upgrading so many of the naval assets operating throughout the region, this was a great opportunity to engage with them and showcase our capabilities.
“Our TLS is fast becoming the recognised standard for ships in South East Asia that require this type of equipment. Although there is strong competition, we were able to demonstrate the latest equipment technology and discuss how we already work closely with in-country partners to supply customer requirements.”
