By Calvin Biesecker

Following on the heels of its recent surprise win in the Air Force tanker competition and expectations that it would begin moving to further expand its footprint in the United States by acquiring defense companies here, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) yesterday said it has acquired California-based PlantCML, a leading provider of 911 call center software and workstations, for $350 million.

The deal actually fits well with some of what EADS already does in the United States and in other countries, which is provide professional mobile radio solutions for emergency responders through its EADS Secure Networks business. Last fall EADS North America hired two executives to oversee its growth in the U.S. homeland security and public safety space (Defense Daily, Oct. 25, 2007).

“Bringing PlantCML into our business portfolio further enhances EADS North America’s capabilities in ensuring the homeland security of the United States,” Ralph Crosby, chairman and CEO of EADS North America, said in a statement. “The resources of PlantCML are a perfect match with our growing homeland security and public safety activity, which already includes turnkey professional mobile radio systems and network security training.”

EADS North American acquired PlantCML from Golden Gate Capital, a private equity firm. EADS said that PlantCML’s annual sales are under $200 million.

PlantCML’s core capabilities are in call management and radio dispatch products for emergency call centers, emergency notification services, computer aided dispatch, and mapping services. The company’s products are in 60 percent of the 911 call centers in the United States, including eight of the largest 10 U.S. cities. Those cities include New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Phoenix and San Diego.

PlantCML also has a business base in Quebec, Canada, where about 100 of its 620 employees are located.

EADS said the acquisition will also allow PlantCML to benefit from EADS’ existing international footprint for professional mobile radio systems. EADS has provided interoperable communications solutions for over 180 public networks in 65 countries. In addition to its P25 radio systems, EADS also provides the CyberSecurity Network Training Simulator to train operators to recognize and defend cyber attacks.

While PlantCML will become part of EADS North America, the new business unit will likely have ties to German-based EADS Secure Networks as well. EADS Secure Networks develops the P25 radio network solutions.