Press Release
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Honeywell and Thales Sign Teaming Agreement for Unmanned Micro Air Vehicle
Marketing
FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW, July 14, 2008 -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and
Thales announced today that they are teaming together to market the Honeywell
unmanned Micro Air Vehicle to military organizations in France, Germany and the
United Kingdom.
The agreement covers payload and system integration that will be tailored for
military customers.
The unmanned Micro Air Vehicle enhances soldier safety on the battlefield and
in urban combat settings by providing highly accurate situation awareness,
threat detection, alerts and over-the-horizon images in hostile environments.
The small size and weight of the Micro Air Vehicle allows rapid deployment and
recovery for mobile military soldiers.
Thales will offer the Micro Air Vehicle as a stand-alone unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) or as part of larger military programs, such as the Future Rapid
Effect System, Future Infantry Soldier Technology and SCORPION, France’s
military program encompassing tanks, armored personnel carriers, helicopters
and battlefield management systems.
“Honeywell’s Micro Air Vehicle has demonstrated versatility in the field and
the value of the real-time surveillance data it provides,’ said Mike Cuff, Vice
President, Helicopters & Surface Systems. “Now we are teaming with Thales
to bring this combat-proven experience to the end-users, to help meet their
requirements and customization needs. This includes military organizations in
France, German and the U.K. that require a valuable surveillance asset.”
“We are very happy to team with Honeywell on such a project,” said Millar
Crawford, Vice President Land Systems, Thales Land & Joint. “Protection of
forces – soldiers, vehicles, military camps – is a key concern for most armies.
Thales is very involved in this domain and proposes various solutions depending
on the situation. The use of such a micro UAV will bring interesting new
capabilities. Our approach is to provide solutions that help our customers
maximize their operational capabilities and increase survivability on the
field.”
The Micro Air Vehicle is small enough to carry in a backpack and is equipped
with video cameras that relay information back to foot soldiers using a
portable handheld terminal. The circular vehicle, just 16 (7.25 kilogrammes)
pounds and 13 inches (33.02 centimeters) in diameter, operates like a small
remote-controlled helicopter and can easily fly down to inspect hazardous areas
for threats without exposing soldiers to enemy fire.
“The Micro Air Vehicle provides the unique ability to take off and land
vertically in all weather, including desert and urban terrains without runways
or helipads,” Cuff said.
The air vehicle offers 50 minutes of flight endurance and more than 40 knots of
airspeed, and operates at altitudes of more than 10,000 feet. Precise controls
allow it to operate in all weather conditions at high altitudes or just inches
from the ground, providing hover and stare capabilities to identify improvised
explosive device (IED) detection and other critical missions in war
zones.
The Micro Air Vehicle requires minimal operator training and the military
configuration includes two airborne vehicles, a ground data terminal and
operator control unit to guide the aircraft and receive images from the
cameras. The operator control unit can be used to program a flight path or
control the air vehicle manually. The Micro Air Vehicle features a gimballed
payload with electro-optical cameras for daylight operations or infrared
cameras for night missions.
Honeywell’s Micro Air Vehicle has been field-tested in Iraq and has flown more
than 3,500 test flights over the past three years. In 2007 it was demonstrated
during flight tests in France and the United Kingdom.
The Micro Air Vehicle is available to military, civilian law enforcement and
security organizations. The Miami-Dade County, Fla., police department is
currently reviewing its use for surveillance in urban environments.
Honeywell has two contracts from the U.S. Navy totaling $7.5 million for the
manufacture of more than a dozen Micro Air Vehicle systems. In 2003, the
Defense Advanced Release Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Honeywell a $40
million technology demonstration contract to develop the system. A subsequent
$61 million contract was awarded last summer as part of the Army’s Future
Combat Systems program.
About Thales
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing
defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales’s leading-edge
technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability
unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical
information systems. To this end, the group’s civil and military businesses
develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single
objective: the security of people, property and nations.
The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on
trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while
leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial
development. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2007 revenues of
€12.3 billion.
For more information please visit www.thalesgroup.com.
About Honeywell
Honeywell International is a $37 billion diversified technology and
manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and
services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive
products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township,
N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock
Exchanges. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com.
Based in Phoenix, Honeywell’s $12 billion aerospace business is a leading
global provider of integrated avionics, engines, systems and service solutions
for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation, military,
space and airport operations.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address
activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects,
projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions
and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their
perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future
developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The
forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a
number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to
economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our
operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results,
developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such
forward-looking statements.
Media Contacts:
Honeywell
Karen Crabtree
+480-235-0675
karen.crabtree@honeywell.com
Thales
Aude Colas des Francs
+ 33 6 85 14 66 16
aude.colasdesfrancs@fr.thalesgroup.com
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