Safran and Thales sign optronics partnership agreement

Thales and Safran today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create an equally-owned joint venture for optronics (electro-optical) systems and equipment. Through this joint venture Thales and Safran will combine their respective areas of expertise in optronics, and expand their offering of products and services to cover emerging needs for new defence systems, including both modernization programs and original equipment. The new systems under consideration include the optronics pod for the modernized Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, the imaging system for the upcoming French-British MALE (medium altitude, long endurance) drone, modular optronics systems for army land vehicles, and optronics 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.