Madrid, 05 of March 2014 Thales establish a cooperation team with the Spanish company Wake Engineering to develop light UAVs Thales, a leading technology company with wide-ranging experience and a broad international presence, has establish a cooperation agreement with Wake Engineering, a company with 100% Spanish capital, with the goal of developing and boosting the business of light unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAV) for the civil and defence purposes. With the agreement signed this morning, Thales will support Wake in the new development of the Fulmar platform, which will boast important enhancements due to be presented in March at UNVEX’14, the fair for unmanned aerial vehicle solutions. In addition, another of the important novelties arising from this collaborative work will also be exhibited at this fair: the F2, a larger-scale unmanned aircraft with the possibility of transporting a greater technological load. Key points • The agreement’s objective is to reinforce the light UAV business • Wake, in collaboration with Thales, will develop the new Fulmar and the F2 • Thales’s team in Spain becomes one of the principal companies driving technology in Spanish SMEs Wake Engineering is a company created by the Spanish CPS group of technology and engineering companies, with more than 35 years of experience in the Railway, Traffic, Aeronautics and Defence sectors, with the purpose of designing and manufacturing 100% Spanish light UAVs. “This joint cooperation between Wake and Thales is important in the development of new solutions in the domain of mini and light UAVs. We are “This joint cooperation between Wake and Thales is Thales España - CE Parque Norte. Edificio Álamo - C/Serrano Galvache, 56- 28003 Madrid Tel.: +34.91.273.72.00 - www.thalesgroup.com- www.thalesgroup.es committed to Spanish talent because we consider that this company has what it takes to offer great solutions suitable for the customer needs” says José Sarnito, Business Development Director for Aeronautics, Defence and Security of Thales in Spain. In turn Borja Comino, Managing Director of Wake Engineering, says: “this agreement allows us to go hand in hand with a benchmark technology partner like Thales which, supporting us in developing our business and with its wideranging worldwide experience, will pave the way for us in exporting our products”. important in the development of new solutions in the domain of mini and light UAVs. We are committed to Spanish talent because we consider that this company has what it takes to offer great solutions suitable for the customer needs” José Sarnito, Business Development This new collaboration forms part of Thales in Spain’s objective to support Spanish technology companies from this sector through funding, technology transfer and the support of the international commercial network of the Thales Group. Sobre Wake Engineering Wake Engineering is a technology company of the Spanish CPS engineering group operating in the sectors of Railways, Road Traffic, Aeronautics and Defence. Created in the year 1975, CPS offers turnkey technology solutions in the spheres of telecommunications, security and Intelligent Transportation Systems. As of late 2013 the group has a staff of 600 employees, headquarters in Spain, Turkey and Peru and strong commercial activity in Morocco, Brazil, Aeronautics, Defence and Security Director of Thales España “this agreement allows us to go hand in hand with a benchmark technology partner like Thales which, supporting us in developing our business and with its wide-ranging worldwide experience, will pave the way for us in exporting our products” Borja Comino, Managing Director of Saudi Arabia, Angola and Indonesia, among others. Wake Engineering Collaboration with the Thales Group began in the year 1982, supporting the company then called Marconi Señalización y Telecomunicaciones in the sector of railway signalling. During these years both companies have continued to closely cooperate in Spain and in other Websites international markets. Today both companies share the challenge of designing and Thales Group manufacturing 100% Spanish UAVs capable of competing at the highest national and Thales Aerospace international level. Wake Engineering incorporates the best professionals in the sector in Spain and all the technological capacity and commitment to innovation of the CPS group. Thales Press Room About Thales Thales España es centro de competencia para todo el mundo en Espacio, Seguridad de Infraestructuras Críticas y Transporte. Con una facturación de 300 millones de euros y 1.300 personas, exporta más del 30% de su producción total principalmente a Oriente Medio, Norte de África y Latinoamérica. Thales España dispone de oficinas en las principales ciudades de España y en la ciudad de Ankara (Turquía). Participa en las empresas Amper Programas y S.A.E.S. La presencia de Thales es imprescindible en sectores estratégicos como Defensa, Espacio y Seguridad Civil para ferrocarriles, aeropuertos e instalaciones energéticas de petróleo y gas. Para más información consulte: www.thalesgroup.es Thales is a global technology leader in the Aerospace, Transportation and Defence & Security markets. In 2013, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion with 65,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners. www.thalesgroup.com Press contact Thales España Elena Chavarría. [email protected] Tfno.: 91 273 76 86 Primar Comunicación Cristina González. [email protected] Tfno. : 91 458 57 27 Thales España - CE Parque Norte. Edificio Álamo - C/Serrano Galvache, 56- 28003 Madrid Tel.: +34.91.273.72.00 - www.thalesgroup.com- www.thalesgroup.es