Thales Communications yesterday said it changed its name on Oct. 1 to Thales Defense & Security, Inc., to better represent its array of capabilities following the merger earlier this year of two other Thales entities and the acquisition last year of several companies.
“Our diversification within the defense, federal and commercial markets is enabling us to broaden our technology base and increase our value to our customers,” Michael Sheehan, President and CEO of Thales Defense & Security said in a statement. Sheehan held the same position in the former Thales Communications.
Thales Defense & Security is part of the United States-based operations of Thales USA, the umbrella organization overseeing France’s Thales Group businesses in the U.S. Thales Defense & Security remains headquartered in Maryland.
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| Thales Liberty Multiband Land Mobile Radio for Public Safety Photo: Thales |
Thales Defense & Security is a proxy-regulated company under Thales USA, meaning it operates free of foreign ownership, control and influence and is approved to work on all U.S. government projects.
Earlier this year two other Thales businesses merged with Thales Communications, Thales Defense and Security, which is focused on integrating solutions from Thales operations globally into U.S.-centric systems, and the Navigation and Surveillance segment of Thales Air Traffic Management. With the mergers, Thales e-Security, a data protection solutions business, and advanced sonar systems provider Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC), a joint venture between Thales and DRS Technologies, are also part of Thales Defense & Security.
In 2012 Thales Communications acquired Tampa Microwave, Visionix and InterSense.
Following the consolidation, Thales Defense & Security is focused on seven business areas: Communications Systems, such as software-defined radio equipment; System Solutions, the company’s gateway for integrating Thales-wide solutions into U.S.-centric systems such as public safety and Naval communications, ISR solutions, electronic warfare and advanced technology programs; Air Traffic Management, which includes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Defense Department as customers; Thales Visionix, a subsidiary that develops helmet mounted display and motion tracking technologies; Thales e-Security, a global provider of data protection solutions to businesses, governments and technology vendors; Tampa Microwave, a subsidiary that provides the world’s smallest, man-packable, tactical Satellite Communications terminals for high-bandwidth voice, video and data communications on the battlefield; and AAC, LLC, the joint venture with DRS, which is the U.S.-based division of Italy’s Finmeccanica, that provides solutions for sonar detection and classification, torpedo defense, and systems integration.
Thales USA continues to be led by Alan Pelligrini as president and CEO. In addition to Thales Defense & Security, Inc., Thales USA oversees several other businesses. One is for in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) systems for airlines around the globe. Thales IFEC has more employees than Thales Defense & Security.
The other business in the U.S. include Thales Alenia Space North America, which is part of a joint venture with Finmeccanica, and Thales Transport & Security, which provides communications-based train control systems, and an aviation solutions business that makes automation systems for the FAA.
“Thales has essentially consolidated its U.S. defense and security businesses under one company,” Pelligrini said in a statement. “”This has created a larger, stronger company with operational and market synergies that will benefit both shareholders and customers.”
Thales USA has about 3,000 employees, including the joint ventures.