Sagem and Thales create Optronics JV Optrolead

Sagem (Safran group) and Thales have announced the creation of Optrolead, an equally-owned joint venture for optronics. The official signature creating the new company follows the original memorandum of understanding signed on December 20, 2011.

Optrolead will be responsible for the sale of future optronic systems, especially for defence applications.

The new company is staking out a position in several major programmes, including the optronic payload for the planned upgrade of the French navy’s Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft, the imaging system for the future French-British MALE (medium-altitude, long-endurance) drone, modular optronic systems for army combat vehicles, and optronics for tomorrow’s helicopters.

Emmanuel de Roquefeuil of Thales was named Chairman of the new company, with Albert Levionnois of Sagem as Chief Executive Officer.