Safran is expanding its partnerships, with two Australian companies Advanced Navigation and Thomas Global Systems, to further the development of innovative and world-leading submarine technology in Australia.
To support Safran’s commitment to Australian industry capabilities, Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia (SEDA) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Australian company Advanced Navigation, to cooperate on the development of inertial navigation systems for land and maritime defense applications.
This MoU represents the first step towards close cooperation on the navigation market between Safran (a worldwide market leader) and Advanced Navigation (an inertial navigation expert with a proven export record). The first phase of this cooperation is focused on the navigation subsystem of the Future Submarine Program, and would see Safran and Advanced Navigation’s engineers working together as part of a combined project team.
It is also intended that Safran’s strategic partner, Sydney-based Company Thomas Global Systems, will also play a significant role in Safran’s future submarine activities. The scope of the partnership—signed in early 2018 to manufacture the PASEO sighting system for Land 400 and 907—has been extended to cover the production of hardware for Safran’s naval systems, including submarine optronics and navigation systems.
These two partnership agreements contribute to reinforce Safran’s strategy which comprises two key components: the first is to grow the local subsidiary, Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia, by increasing its capabilities to better support the Australian Defense Force (ADF); the second is to partner with Australian companies to facilitate the exchange of technology and thereby enhance the capabilities of the country’s defense industry.
“We believe this approach will have a positive and enduring effect on Australia’s defense industry. We see this as the most effective path to bring cutting-edge submarine technology to Australia, and it will make real progress towards establishing sovereign capability for the Australian Defense Force,” said Alexis de Pelleport, CEO of Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia.
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aircraft propulsion and equipment, space and defense markets. Safran has a global presence, with more than 58,000 employees and sales of 16.5 billion Euros in 2017. Including Zodiac Aerospace, acquired by Safran in February 2018, the Group now has over 91,000 employees and would have around 21 billion Euros in adjusted annual revenues (2016 pro forma figures).
Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia has complete access to Safran's OEM knowledge and global network to locally support its customers. Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense based in Sydney, Australia.
Advanced Navigation is a privately owned company that specializes in the development and manufacturing of navigation technologies and robotics. The company has a focus on generating products of the highest quality standard, both in terms of hardware and software. Advanced Navigation has specialized expertise across a broad range of fields including sensors, GNSS, inertial navigation, RF technologies, acoustics, robotics, AI and algorithms. Advanced Navigation is an ISO 9001 certified company and maintains a strict quality control system across the two research facilities and three manufacturing facilities that they operate in Australia.
Thomas Global is an industry leader in the design, production and support of innovative electronic systems solutions for aerospace and defense applications. Since 1956, the Company has gained international recognition for practical innovation and dependability. Thomas Global delivers expertise in advanced flight displays, armored vehicle electronics and mission system solutions supported by dedicated service and support teams operating around the world. The Company’s facilities are in Sydney, Australia and Irvine, California.
