Thales and Samtel Display Systems form joint venture

Posted by John McHaleBANGALORE, India, 22 Feb. 2011. Samtel Display Systems Ltd. and Thales Avionics SA are formed a joint venture company -- Samtel Thales Avionics Ltd. The new company will develop, customize, manufacture, sell, and maintain helmet-mounted sight and display systems and modern avionics systems for the Indian and export defense markets.The core objective of the joint venture is to design systems for the Indian forces' helicopters and fighters, but the company will quickly expand to include other products. Based in Delhi, it will provide the foundation for all future Thales aerospace development in India. The resulting Indian avionics systems will serve customer requirements as part of overall Thales and Samtel solutions. These systems will also be eligible to help Thales meet offset obligations for its different program with the Indian Defence Ministry. The new company will ensure local added value support and integrated maintenance services for the systems it produces for the Indian market. "This is a key step for Thales in India and its ambitious development plan, actively encouraged by the Indian Defence Ministry," says Yves Joannic, vice president in charge of Thales Avionics Helicopter activities and one of the directors of the new company. "This joint venture with a national industry partner makes Samtel Thales Avionics Ltd. a very credible player for future programs.""Incorporation of Samtel Thales Avionics is an important step in our strategy to cater to the existing and future opportunities in the Indian defense space," says. "The coming together of Thales's proven technologies and Samtel's Indian experience is sure to create positive synergies that will strengthen the industry."