Components made by France's Thales Group will be the first from a Western company to be integrated into weapons procured by the Russian Defense Ministry. Thales and the Russian government arms export agency, Rosoboronexport, signed a contract July 9 to supply Catherine FC thermal imaging cameras for Russian T-90 tanks through a joint production arrangement. The contract further boosted Thales' position as a Russian industry partner in defense optronics for land forces, which the French firm has cultivated over a decade of cooperation in Russian export contracts.
Igor Sevastyanov, Rosoboronexport's deputy general-director, did not disclose the price of the latest contract, saying only that it was several million euros. "The contract was being prepared for a long time because of the negotiations to get licenses and other permission to deliver this equipment both in Russia and France," he told journalists at the Russian Expo Arms-2008 show in Nizny Tagil. Sevastyanov said the Thales equipment will be delivered to Russia within two to three months.
A tender to be held this year will decide what Russian optical plant will jointly produce Thales camÂeras, Sevastyanov said. Serge Adrian, a Thales representative who signed the contract, said Thales is ready to pass Russia all the technical documentation and to help set up a joint venture to produce cameras in 2009. |