Selex ES is consolidating of its facilities in the south of England to better position itself to respond to a number of UK Ministry of Defence tenders that are underway.
Fabrizio Giulianini, Selex ES chief executive, says its new £10 million electronic systems site – officially opened on 8 July - will focus on a number of initiatives, including the company’s involvement in Project Marshall which is an effort to upgrade the MoD’s air traffic control system.
Selex is part of the Lockheed Martin-led team for the programme, which is scheduled to last some 22 years: “We are going to submit the [final] bid for this soon,” Giulianini says.
The new site will also facilitate Selex’s involvement in the UK’s element of the NATO next-generation identification friend or foe Mode 5 programme, for which it was recently downselected alongside one other undisclosed bidder, either a joint Thales/Raytheon team or Airbus Defence & Space.
“On the back of these opportunities we are offering capabilities concentrated here at this site,” Giulianini says. “If we will win these opportunities then this will be a big boost to the business here.”
Selex
Selex’s UK division serves as an export hub for the company, with some 60% of business being done with international customers from the facilities.
“One of our biggest export successes is that we won the contract with the [Saab] Gripen,” Giulianini says. While the e-scan radar the company provides will be manufactured at its Edinburgh factory, its Southampton plant will produce the detector for the Sykward infrared search and track (IRST) system.
“This is a very successful programme for us,” Giulianini said, noting that 60% of the electronics on board the Gripen are made by Selex.
Source: Flight Daily News