By Luca Peruzzi
Selex Sistemi Integrati is a condolidated electronics group for defence and security within Finmeccanica, Italy’s industrial aerospace and defence giant.
It was established in 2005, and since day one the division has been headed by Chief Executive Officer Marina Grossi. It comprised a number of legacy businesses, including radar sensors; and command and control systems for air-defence, naval, ground and air traffic control applications. But the main role set out for Selex Sistemi Integrati was “large systems integrator – or systems of systems integrator,” Grossi says.
“Selex Sistemi Integrati is developing its production strategies by optimising its sensors families while introducing advanced multi-purpose systems and expanding the large systems business through interaction with other Finmeccanica companies,” she says.
Systems solutions
“We are promoting network-centric warfare-capable large systems solutions for worldwide armed forces and homeland protection. We are offering critical national infrastructures and transportation security and protection in addition to border surveillance systems.”
New products include a new family of 3D multi-function radars called Kronos for short-to-medium range naval, ground and air-defence surveillance and missile tracking applications. And Selex-SI has been assigned by Finmeccanica the task of main integrator for Forza NEC (NEC Force), the Italian MoD future battlefield digitalisation programme, while in the coastal control segment, the company has delivered VTS (vessel traffic surveillance) and coastal surveillance networks to Italian Navy/Coast Guard and more recently to Yemen.
In its 2006 year results report, Finmeccanica says is expecting to conclude a border surveillance system main contract with a foreign customer in 2007.
Grossi foresees major changes in the Selex-SI business mix in the present decade, with revenues growing to around e1.3 billion in 2010, almost double 2006’s e700 million figure. Large systems business currently accounts for 10% of Selex SI’s business, but this is expected to treble by 2010, Grossi says.
Air traffic control is also foreseen to increase from the today’s 40% share.
“And overseas sales will account for 60% of Selex SI’s business by the end of the decade compared with 40% today,” she says.
The company is also active in international development and production partnerships. “The agreement we signed with Saab Microwave Systems of Sweden (formerly Ericsson) in 2005 will help to fill a gap in our production portfolio for an active 3D multi-functional radar for naval, air-defence and ground applications. The agreement adds value for both parties, allowing Saab to have access to some our technologies and Selex SI to reach the market on time,” Grossi says.
Selex Sistemi Integrati also has a long heritage in air traffic management (ATM). “In addition to the domestic market, where Selex Sistemi Integrati provides national large ATCs and large airport infrastructures systems, these products are into operation in around 100 countries including Bulgaria, Malaysia, Romania, Turkey and Venezuela.
The latest deals were signed in India, where the company will provide the complete ATC package for Hyderabad and Bangalore airports and in Turkey where Selex-SI will supply integrated ATC national centres, says Grossi.
Market trend
“In addition to ATM systems packages, today’s market trend in emerging countries such as in India is for a turn key solutions, which Selex SI is approaching together with other Finmeccanica companies such as ElsagDatamat, in order to provide the most complete package,” she adds.
Selex-SI is also actively involved in the European Commission’s Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) project. Last April, Selex Sistemi Integrati’s industrial, end-users and research team was awarded a contract for the system wide information management - supported by innovative technologies (SWIMSUIT) research and development project for a future ATM information management system, results of which are to contribute to SESAR.
Source: Flight Daily News