Thales acquires RUAG’s simulation and training business

Thales has finalised the acquisition of RUAG Simulation & Training, including its 500 employees and with sales worth approximately EUR90m in 2021.

Thales’ foothold in the land market will be enhanced by the merger, while its competence in helicopters and military aviation systems will be maintained. This purchase will allow the company to strengthen its local footprint in key regions such as France, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, while also expanding its presence in the UAE and Australia.

Thales and RUAG S&T’s synergies will open up new possibilities for accelerating the implementation of next-generation hybrid systems that combine live and synthetic knowledge. The effort, which is driven by land force digitisation, is entirely in line with the worldwide trend toward more ecologically friendly solutions, as well as Thales’ ESG objectives.

Following the completion of the official purchase procedure, the two firms will be integrated to create a more efficient business while assuring the continuation of activities and operations for the benefit of the armed forces.

Meanwhile, Thales’ Training & Simulation business designs and delivers training capabilities for armed forces, civil and government helicopter operators worldwide. It also acts as an industrial partner for the co-development of large-scale systems for defence programmes. With 900 employees, the business has industrial sites in France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia, as well as joint ventures and training sites in the USA, Middle East and Europe.

Over the year, RUAG Simulation & Training has demonstrated strong technological competences. The company thus benefits from a solid market reputation, and its portfolio includes significant contracts among which several ones with the Swiss Army. With 500 employees, the company started in Switzerland and does now operate in Switzerland, France, Germany and the UAE.

In other news, earlier this year, Sanad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thales, to explore areas of collaboration in areas pertaining to industrial services for the aviation sector.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Sanad and Thales to collaborate on aviation services

As part of the agreement, Sanad and Thales will work collaboratively on regional and international projects, with Sanad taking the lead on providing state-of-the-art industrial systems. The company will work alongside Thales, which will spearhead the design and build.

Also read: Why Thales believes cybersecurity should be seen as a business enabler