Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defense, Aerospace, Cybersecurity and Digital sectors, and Arab International Optronics (AIO) have announced the signing of six strategic agreements, marking a new era of cooperation to support Egypt in building its technological future with confidence and autonomy.
For over 50 years, Thales has stood as a trusted partner of the Arab Republic of Egypt, supporting the nation’s vision for growth and sovereignty. This reinforced collaboration builds upon decades of trust and leverages the expertise of more than 800 engineers and professionals to deliver innovative “Made in Egypt” solutions.
At the heart of this partnership, AIO and Thales will deepen their cooperation across six key domains:
- Training: Establishment of the Thales Academy in Egypt to enhance the expertise of Egyptian Forces, government, and civilian institutions in optronics, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), radio telecommunications, and radar. Certified training programs will be delivered by Thales experts, alongside extended cooperation between Egyptian and French universities.
- Fire Control Systems (FCS): Development of an upgrade kit for heavy armoured vehicles and tanks, combining AIO’s expertise in fire control systems with Thales’ excellence in optronics sighting solutions.
- Remote Controlled Weapon Systems (RCWS): Joint development of a laser-guided rocket version of the renowned AIO X29, integrating AIO’s RCWS expertise with Thales’ advanced laser-guided rocket technologies.
- Surveillance: Delivery of a combat-proven solution to Egypt’s Armed Forces, based on Thales ground radar and Hand-Held Thermal Imagers (HHTI). This man-pack solution, managed by a dedicated command-and-control computer, enables rapid detection and identification of threats.
- Service Centre: Establishment of a dedicated service centre within AIO’s facilities to support Thales HHTI systems deployed across Egyptian forces.
- Supply Chain: Integration of AIO supplies and sub-assemblies into Thales’ global supply chain, enhancing productivity and competitiveness for both companies while further developing AIO’s industrial capabilities.
Sherif Barakat, CEO of Thales in Egypt, commented: “With the reinforcement of this strong partnership with AIO, Thales in Egypt is proud to contribute to Egypt’s technological sovereignty. By further anchoring Thales’ advanced solutions within Egypt, both our companies are committed to transforming Egypt into a regional technology hub, capable of supporting and exporting high-value, locally produced solutions to Egypt and other markets.”