Publication: Business Report Date: 2006-01-19 Reporter: Roy Cokayne Reporter:

AMS in Joint Project with Thales

 

Publication 

Business Report
Date

2006-01-19

Reporter

 Roy Cokayne

Web Link

www.busrep.co.za

 

Pretoria - Aerospace Monitoring and Systems (AMS), an avionics firm based in Midrand, had signed a co-operation contract with Thales of France, AMS reported yesterday.

The company, which is due to be acquired by Swedish technology group Saab in April, said the agreement was for the development of the data management system on the Airbus A330 multirole tanker transport aircraft.

The Royal Australian Air Force has already ordered five of the aircraft and the UK's Royal Air Force has ordered 20.

AMS will be responsible for the hardware and software development, and qualification of the data management system, while Thales will supply the initial specifications and one part of the development methodology.

The contract provides for the development of prototypes by the end of this year, with the first production standard modules to be delivered from 2007.

The data management system handles three main functions: the management of three multifunctional control and display units, the control of navigational equipment and the control of communication systems.

The signing of the co-operation agreement follows the relationship established between Thales and AMS during the development of the vehicle management module for the Agusta 109 helicopter as part to the South African light utility helicopter offset programme *1.

The module was also selected for the Swedish Army helicopter and the Malaysian Air Force light utility helicopter. An agreement was signed in December, in terms of which Saab would acquire AMS for R30 million from April.

AMS, which focuses on aircraft monitoring and recording systems for the global aerospace and defence market, will become part of Saab Grintek Defence, which is jointly owned by Saab Grintek and Saab.

When the deal is completed, AMS will form part of Saab Avitronics, a Saab business unit focusing on avionics and electronic warfare systems. It already has operations in both Sweden and South Africa.

With acknowledgements to Roy Cokayne and Business Report.


*1  Adv Hofmeyer should note that Thales did not only benefit from the corvette combat suite programme.

They benefitted inter alia from the logistics sub-contracts on the LUH programme as well as the Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) sub-contracts on other SDP programmes.

If Squires J rules in favour of the AFU in the case of The State vs S. Shaik and Others as well as either of the two Thints in the case of The State vs The Two Thints and One Previously Significant Other (watch your TV screens and this space from 2006-07-31), then the AFU is going to have a major collection spree coming up shortly.

They can possibly collect enough from these serial wonga splodgers to prevent a major effect on the national fiscus in the case of CCII Systems vs The State and One Other (watch your TV screens and this space from 2007-04-16).


First Riddle for 2006

What attire will the Previously Significant Other be wearing in the Durban High Court on 2006-07-31?

Seeing we in the RSA are trying all the time to improve our pass rates, we'll make this one a multiple choice :