Dornier, part of Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA), and Thomson CSF Radars et ContreMesures have announced at Farnborough that they are to co-operate on all future bids for airborne reconnaissance using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR),
The two companies announced on the first day of the Show that they have signed a memorandum of understanding which includes manned and unmanned airborne SAR systems with Moving Target Indicator (MTI) capability.
The first result of the move is a joint bid for the German air force requirement for reconnaissance pods for Tornados. The bid will team Dornier's Communication Systems Division as system leader with Thomson CSF RCM and DASA's Sensor Systems division in Ulm and Military Aircraft in Ottobrunn to provide the SARTO pod for all-weather imaging reconnaissance.
A spokesman for Thomson says there are no plans for joint development programmes at this stage. "As far as all our SAR and MTI future projects are concerned, we are to work together. We are to make a proposal with Dornier for the SAR pod for the German air force as a first step.
"For further projects we would have to form further groups within our companies," he says.
The move is seen as another part of the need for European aerospace contractors to pool international marketing resources to help win contracts.
Source: Flight Daily News