Aerospatiale Matra and CAC Systèmes of France have signed a strategic agreement aimed at winning the pair a combined share of "at least 10%" of the fast-growing global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market.
Aerospatiale Matra's sales in the sector stand at between Fr300-400 million ($50-$60 million), while CAC has annual sales of around Fr80 million ($11 million) in a global market estimated to be worth at least Fr6.5 billion, by CAC president Christophe Corizzi.
He says the deal, which involves no cash or share swap, aims to "consolidate the position of each company in all sectors of the UAV market through commercial, technical and industrial co-operation". Aerospatiale Matra will create a new UAV division, DSDE (Direction des Systèmes de Drones et d'Entrainement). Corizzi becomes director, but remains president of CAC Systèmes.
The deal will allow Aerospatiale Matra to consolidate its range of UAVs, in which it is present only in the medium UAV sector, while CAC Systèmes sells mainly smaller vehicles with ranges of up to 70km (38nm).
Aerospatiale Matra, soon to become part of EADS, has meanwhile posted a 10% increase in sales in the first quarter of this year, to c2.7 billion ($2.5 billion),compared with 1999, with president Philippe Camus reporting "remarkable growth" in all business areas. Civil aircraft sales grew 9%, helicopters 10%, space 12% and missiles 22%. Dassault Aviation - in which it has a 46% stake - saw orders grow 30%.
· Aerospatiale Matra maintenance subsidiary Sogerma is to form a joint venture company with Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Air subsidiary GAMCO. Also based in Abu Dhabi, the venture will serve Airbus customers throughout the Middle East.
Source: Flight International
