Non-Subscriber Extract
Thales teams with Kongsberg to tackle UK RWS market
By Keri Smith
14 September 2007
Thales UK and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Norway have teamed up to "address the UK remote weapons station [RWS] market", the companies announced at DSEi 2007 in London.
David Clark, Thales UK's director of product management for Land & Joint Systems, said the two companies have signed "an exclusive teaming arrangement" to provide integrated solutions for the British Army, with a focus on armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) programmes.
"We are expecting a long-term agreement, but the initial agreement is for five years," Clark said.
Under the accord, Thales will undertake licensed manufacturing of Kongsberg's Protector RWS at its Glasgow site and will provide through-life support within the UK. Clark added that the "UK element" would be run from the optronics business line, which employs 700 people.