• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Thomson-CSF wins contract for night vision sights

20 June 2001

Pilkington Optronics, a member of Thomson-CSF Optrosys, based in St Asaph North Wales, has been awarded a contract to supply the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) with its Kite night vision weapon sight. The contract, which, with options for additional quantities of Kite and Midi-Kite weapon sights, is worth up to #12.5m, was won in competition with other leading international companies. Final selection of Kite and Midi-Kite was on the basis of overall equipment performance and response to customer requirements together with strict value for money considerations.

Kite and Midi-Kite are lightweight, high performance night vision weapon sights designed to meet the demanding military specifications for modern weapon aiming devices. Kite is to be fitted to light support infantry weapons and, subject to the option being exercised, Midi-Kite, which is the latest model in the Kite product range, shall be fitted to medium and heavy support infantry weapons.

Rob Thompson, Managing Director of the Thomson-CSF site at St Asaph said of the announcement, "this is a significant contract that shows the continuing success of Kite in the world market. Securing contracts such as this, proves that the design and manufacturing capabilities at our St Asaph site are amongst the best in the world and have resulted in international sales of over 40,000 units of the Kite family".

Pilkington Optronics' selection for this new business enhances its design and manufacturing capabilities, which coupled with its position as Prime Contractor to the UK Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) on the Future Infantry System Technology (FIST) technical demonstrator phase, have ensured that it is playing a leading role in developing the UK's capability in future infantry systems. The Company also has a number of close links with similar international projects.

The RNLA contract further strengthens Thomson-CSF presence in the United Kingdom, which was recently reinforced by the acquisition of the British company Racal Electronics Plc. The acquisition of Racal represents an important milestone for Thomson-CSF, significantly reinforcing the Group's market position worldwide. Combined global revenues of Thomson-CSF Racal are close to 8 billion euros. The new company employs 64,500 people worldwide; 50% are based outside France with 15,000 in the UK, effectively doubling the Group's size in the United Kingdom and boosting UK turnover to 2 billion euros. The acquisition will strengthen systems capabilities across the whole spectrum of defence electronics and add commercial businesses entirely complementary to those of Thomson-CSF.

Press contacts

Tim Orr
(0) 141 440 4393
(0) 7767 220964