Gamco, Thales in electronics joint venture

The Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Co (Gamco) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Thales Defence Area to establish a joint venture company here to provide electronic systems for defence and aeronautics.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Gamco chairman; and Jean-Robert Martin, executive vice-president and CEO of Thales Defence, formerly Thomson-CSF. According to Gamco, both partners will set up a high-tech industrial centre with the ability to locally manage a substantial part of the integration of electronic systems for defence and aeronautics.

The joint venture company will also be able to provide maintenance and after-sales service for the systems as well as training for their operators, in cooperation with the CERT Thales Institute, Gamco said.

"Thales is one of the world's defence companies with a domestic presence in several countries. It has been also present in the UAE for more than 30 years, strengthening and reaffirming its commitment for a long partnership with the country by contributing to the development of the high-tech capacities of UAE industry," Gamco added.

Thales Defence Area is organised as a three-business area company - aerospace, defence and information technology and services. It has 65,000 employees in over 50 countries. "In defence, Thales has proven capabilities in detection systems, communications and command, control and information systems to meet the operational priorities of the armed forces and serve the fastest-growing segment of the defence market integration of complex electronic systems," GAMCO said.