French multinational Thales and Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace are set to establish a Norway-based joint venture to deliver secure communications products and services in the region. The JV will combine Thales’ crypto and secure communications business and Kongsberg’s secure communications unit in Norway. The businesses have a combined revenue of $150 million.
“Through this jointly owned company, we will be able to strengthen collaboration and leverage synergies between KONGSBERG and Thales, creating a new key player in secure communications that supports bilateral cooperation between Norway and France,” said Christophe Salomon, executive vice president of Thales’ Secure Communications and Information Systems unit.
Thales said Friday that the partnership comes as Europe sees increased demand for improved interoperability, sovereignty and delivery of large-scale equipment. Equally owned by the two companies, the joint venture will have an estimated 350-strong workforce working in various locations across the Nordic country, including Oslo, Trondheim and Asker. Its finalization is subject to customary closing conditions.
According to Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace President Eirik Lie, combining the two companies’ Norway businesses will produce an entity that will offer a comprehensive, robust communications offering that takes advantage of Kongsberg’s secure communications and Thales’ crypto expertise.