Thomson-CSF Airsys and Siemens have formed a joint venture to offer air-traffic-management (ATM) systems in the market for "highly complex, integrated ATM systems".
Thomson-CSF and Siemens have 60% and 40% stakes in the venture, Airsys ATM. It will be based in France, with operations in Australia, Germany, the UK and the USA. Thomson-CSF Airsys general manager Francois Lureau believes that the company will "-generate Fr2.2 billion [$400 million] of revenues a year".
The venture will take over all existing contracts being carried out by both concerns. In at least one case (Siemens' contract with Hungary for its new Mathias ATM system) Airsys ATM is discussing supplying Thomson-CSF Airsys' Eurocat 2000 system instead of Siemens equipment, which has suffered major installation delays because of difficulties meeting the specification.
The new joint venture says that it now holds a 20% market share for ATM systems.
The tie-up is part of a wider re-organisation at Siemens which is expected to see the sale soon of the company's defence-electronics division. Formal bids have been submitted by several European concerns, including Daimler-Benz Aerospace.
Source: Flight International
