Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems and Thales UK form Avionics Alliance to provide long term support for Royal Navy Sea King Aircraft
14 June 2005
The Avionics Alliance comprising SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems, a Finmeccanica Company and Thales UK confirmed their commitment to revolutionising technical support and spares for rotary aircraft at a contract signature ceremony with Westland Helicopters at Thales UK's offices at Raynes Park. Westland Helicopters is the prime contractor for the Sea King Integrated Operational Support (SKIOS) programme, a new industrial partnering arrangement for the future maintenance of the UK MoD's vitally important fleet of Sea King Helicopters.
SKIOS will provide the MOD with a more integrated support service based upon guaranteed availability of equipment and technical services. SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems (SELEX S&AS) and Thales UK have established the Avionics Alliance for rotary aircraft and within SKIOS will provide Westland Helicopters, as the prime contractor, with a reliable ‘avionics arm' to deliver a total platform support capability.
Nick Franks, SELEX S&AS Managing Director said: "This is an exciting new way for us to do business and represents a win, win situation, with industry, the Defence Logistics Organisation and the armed forces all benefiting from the new arrangement"
A significant innovation of the SKIOS solution is the establishment of a co-located industry (Westland Helicopters/SELEX S&AS and Thales UK) team with the Sea King Integrated Project Team (IPT) in Sherborne, Dorset.
The SKIOS programme leads a new approach in performance monitoring as it will be assessed by Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that measure availability of assets and technical support for the equipment users (Sea King squadrons within the RN and RAF). SKIOS is expected to become the benchmark for future support concepts, initiatives and policies.
Richard Deakin, Managing Director of Thales UK's aerospace business said, "As the prime contractor on the Sea King Mk7, this platform is an area of particular expertise for Thales UK. This contract represents a significant step in offering support solutions to the Sea King fleet using an integrated operational support philosophy underpinned by teamwork. SKIOS is the first of a series of similar opportunities on rotary wing aircraft."
The fleet includes seven different models of aircraft, flying a wide variety of missions in a number of roles including, Search and Rescue (SAR), Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and amphibious troop transport.
Although Sea Kings have been operational for 30 years, various upgrades and airframe improvements mean that they are due to remain in service until 2018 and will continue to play a key part in Britain's defence infrastructure.
Notes to Editors
About Finmeccanica:
Finmeccanica is Italy's leading high-tech company, operating in the design and manufacture of helicopters, aerostructures, satellites, space infrastructure, missiles and defence electronics. It plays a leading role in the European aerospace and defence industry, and participates in some of the biggest international programmes in the sector through well-established alliances with European and American partners. Finmeccanica also boasts significant manufacturing assets and skills in the transport, energy and IT sectors. The group is listed on the Milan stock exchange, and operates in Italy and abroad through 16 companies and 6 joint ventures. It employs around 51,000 staff in total. As part of its drive to maintain and build on its technological expertise, Finmeccanica spends the equivalent of over 16% of its revenues on research and development.
About SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems:
SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems, a Finmeccanica company, is one of Europe's leading defence electronics companies which is 75% owned by Finmeccanica and 25% owned by BAE Systems and brings together the former Galileo Avionica in Italy and the UK based BAE Systems Avionics. SELEX Sensors and Airborne systems provides world class capabilities in surveillance, protection, tracking, targeting, avionics and imaging systems. The company employs some 7,600 employees and has operations in England, Scotland, Italy, and the United States. Further details can be obtained from our website http://www.selex-sas.com/
For further information contact:
Jane Macfarlane, External Communications Manager, SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 131 343 8993
Mob: +44 (0) 7736 810172
Email: jane.macfarlane@baesystems.com
About Thales UK:
Thales UK's defence activities encompass optronics, air defence, sensors, avionics, communications and naval systems. The company is the UK's second largest defence contractor and has been a supplier to the MoD since the First World War. Thales employs 11,000 staff in the UK and 61,500 people in 50 countries. In 2003, Thales UK's revenues were £1.2bn.
http://www.thalesgroup.co.uk/
Karen Thomas
Thales UK
Aerospace
01293 644772
07968 570642
karen.thomas@uk.thalesgroup.com
Guy Douglas
Thales UK
01932 824832
07813 903274 guy.douglas@thalesgroup.com
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