Detailed discussions are now at an advanced stage regarding the establishment of the new company.
The equity in the JV will be split equally between the partners. Providing high speed, multimedia, broadband communications within and between vehicles and Command Headquarters, the digital access network will be the critical element in future military communications systems. Racal Radio is at the forefront of technology within the Bowman programme, while Thomson-CSF is a founder member of the ATM Forum and the supplier of the first ATM switches brought to the military arena. In tactical communications, the two companies have a combined world market share of 40 per cent. The formation of this new company is one of the first examples of true European collaboration in defence electronics, bringing together two major defence companies with complementary technologies and skills to address a sizeable new market place.