DASSAULT AVIATION : Alenia Aeronautica, Dassault Aviation et Saab unissent leurs forces dans le cadre du programme de la prochaine g?n?ration du syst?me europ?en de surveillance MALE UAV.

Aujourd'hui, au Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace de Paris le Bourget, Alenia Aeronautica, Dassault Aviation et Saab AB ont signé un protocole d'intention en vue de renforcer leur coopération dans le cadre du programme de la prochaine génération du système européen de surveillance MALE UAV.

Cette coopération stratégique répond aux besoins croissants de drones tant dans leurs applications militaires, civiles que commerciales et plus particulièrement à la demande de drones de moyenne altitude et de longue endurance.

" Le succès de notre coopération dans le cadre du projet nEUROn, nos histoires et nos réalisations respectives prouvent que nous serons l'équipe capable de fournir un drone MALE européen afin de répondre aux besoins européens actuels et à venir " ont déclaré les Directeurs Généraux de Alenia Aeronautica, Dassault-Aviation et Saab AB.

Alenia Aeronautica, as Project Leader, together with the two partner companies, proposes to conduct a government funded study in the field of MALE UAV System. The three companies will share the capabilities and technologies already developed for the nEUROn Programme - the next generation technological demonstrator for a European Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle, UCAV - and transfer them to the new MALE UAV System. This system will benefit from developed and demonstrated technologies as well as from the tools used in the nEUROn Programme. Moreover, the organisation and partnership model of the nEUROn programme will form the basis of the new programme.

The study will define the preliminary characteristics, development and production of a European next generation MALE UAV System, capable to meet the emerging European and worldwide requirements. The three companies initiating this new MALE UAV System programme wish to gain the support from their National Authorities.

"The new MALE UAV system development is open to others, and discussions are going on with European partners. It is highly strategic in order to maintain the capabilities and competitiveness of the European industry both in terms of technological spin-off to the overall aerospace sector and in terms of workload including electronic defence, sensors and communications", concluded the CEO:s of the three partners companies.

Contacts:

ALENIA AERONAUTICA

Flavia Negretti
Ufficio Stampa Alenia Aeronautica
Tel: + 39 06 42088937
Fax: + 39 06 42088836
[email protected]

SAAB AB

Kristina Elingstam
Communications Manager, Saab Aerosystems
+46 (0)734 180013
S-581 88 Linköping
Sweden

DASSAULT AVIATION

Yves Robins, Corporate Communications
+ 33 (0)1 47 11 86 90

Nathalie Bakhos, Export Military Communication
+ 33 (0)1 47 11 60 94