Thales Australia and Nammo have signed a long-term strategic teaming agreement to cooperate in the ordnance market.
The 10-year agreement expands on many years of cooperation between the two companies, and builds on a 2010 commitment to work together on ammunition for the F-35 fighter program, in particular on the Armor Piercing EXplosive (APEX) Norwegian ammunition concept. The agreement also covers Nammo’s special Reduced Ricochet Risk training round, plus Thales’s Armour Piercing Fragmenting & Incendiary (APFI) ammunition round.
Under the increased scope of the new agreement, Nammo and Thales will work together in Research & Development, technology transfer, and component supply from Nammo, and further collaborate within the market place.
Chris Jenkins, Thales Australia’s CEO, said: “This cooperation will increase the range of domestic capability we are able to deliver to the Australian Department of Defence, and will boost our export potential by leveraging our world-class propellant technology and Nammo’s specialist ammunition design and manufacturing heritage.”
Edgar Fossheim, President & CEO of Nammo Group, said: “Nammo is excited about the teaming with Thales Australia. The APEX concept is based on more than 20 years of heritage in the aircraft ammunition business with presence on nearly all fighter aircraft of NATO and in the western world. Cooperation with Thales, as an ordnance industry leader from one of the primary JSF partner nations, will promote the introduction of APEX.”
About The Nammo Group
The Nammo Group, headquartered in Raufoss, Norway is a Nordic defense and aerospace group specializing in design and production of ammunition products, shoulder launched munitions systems, missile and space propulsion systems and demilitarization services. The Nammo Group employs 2000 people at 18 production sites in 7 countries. Nammo recorded revenues of around NOK 3.5 billion in 2010 (AUD 600 million).
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2010, the company generated revenues of €13.1 billion (equivalent of AUD 18.9 billion) with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.
Thales Australia is a trusted partner of the Australian Defence Force and is also present in commercial sectors ranging from air traffic management to security systems and services. Employing around 3,300 people in over 35 sites across the country, Thales Australia recorded revenues of around AUD 900 million in 2010.
Thales
