Safran, Thales ink electro-optics agreement

Paris, France--Thales and Safran signed an agreement to create an equally owned partnership for electro-optical systems and equipment. French defense minister Gérard Longuet was present for the signing ceremony.

Under the terms of the agreement, Thales and Safran will combine their respective areas of expertise in electro-optics and expand their offering of products and services to cover emerging needs for new defense systems, including modernization programs and original equipment. New systems under consideration include the electro-optical pod for the modernized Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, the imaging system for the upcoming French-British MALE drone, modular electro-optical systems for Army land vehicles, and electro-optics for tomorrow’s helicopters. The partnership will be in the form of a joint venture covering technical, commercial, and program aspects, with the industrial assets remaining under the control of the two parent companies.

The two companies are aiming to strengthen the national technology base for infrared (IR) detectors as well as their jointly owned subsidiary Sofradir, in which each company has a 40% stake. They also will eventually transfer to this new partnership the IR detector technologies that they are currently developing within their own units.

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