Thales Acquisition Remains in Abeyance
RUAG Defence France and the Lithuanian Armed Forces have recently signed a contract for the delivery of a number of Small Arms Training Indoor Simulator (SATIS) devices. This deal follows that with the Danish Army in May 2020 for 13 similar devices.
SATIS is an indoor virtual Small Arms Trainer (SAT) for marksmanship and tactical shooting training at individual and unit levels. It is an evolution of SITTAL, which is used by the French Armed Forces in more than 50 garrisons across the country, and by the Côte d’Ivoire Army and law enforcement agency. The latter deal was concluded in mid-2021.
Lithuania opted for the mobile version, allowing for deployments between garrisons. The device can support a number of different tetherless weapons, and instructors are able to monitor individual shot patterns along with firing position, aiming, cant, cast and pitch, along with trigger pressure.
Up to 10 soldiers can use the device at any one time, and RUAG said that the Lithuanian Armed Forces intend to use the device for tactical decision-making and squad coordination.
Although best known for its live training expertise, RUAG began working with French company GAVAP in 2003 to develop a market in the virtual training sector, before acquiring them in 2013. Swiss company RUAG changed the GAVAP name to RUAG Defence France in 2016.
Perhaps the biggest question this contract raises is what happened to RUAG’s stated aim of divesting itself of its defence portfolio, including its S&T activities, to concentrate on the space sector? On 16 November 2021 RUAG said that it was in “exclusive negotiations” with Thales to divest its S&T business, going on to say that, “Thales has the strong intention to take over the entire business activities as well as all 500 employees of RUAG S&T.”
According to sources close to the deal and spoken to at ITEC, it’s a case of ‘watch this space,’ as due diligence and the war in Ukraine have slowed down finalisation of the deal. All things being well, the contract should be inked in early May.
Edward Soden reporting from London for MON
