Latest news with #Thales
Spectator
19 hours ago
- Business
- Spectator
The problem of striking a defence deal with the EU
The UK-EU summit in London in May at which a new relationship between the parties was agreed seems a long time ago now. In fact, it is barely eight weeks, but we live in a world which has supercharged Harold Wilson's mordant dictum that 'a week is a long time in politics'. They seem like aeons now. One major subject at the summit was the EU's financial instrument Security Action for Europe (Safe). This is a fund of €150 billion (£130 billion) which will provide loans for member states to undertake urgent, large-scale defence procurement projects, with the aim of addressing capability gaps and boosting the European defence industry's production capacity. However, Brussels makes clear that 'beneficiary member states will have to carry out, in principle, common procurements involving at least two participating countries to qualify for the loans'. It is now clear that the UK will need to pay a fee to participate in this scheme. The amount has not yet been fixed, but EU diplomats reason that 'since British businesses would receive EU money to create jobs and expand capacity under the scheme, London should recompense Brussels'. France is said to be pushing for a significant contribution, while others, including Germany, are keen not to set the tariff so high that the UK does not participate at all. This should come as no surprise. The prima facie terms of the Safe scheme, initially excluding the US and the UK (between them home to ten of the world's twenty biggest defence contractors), left French and German manufacturers like Thales, Rheinmetall and KNDS at the head of the queue to benefit from new spending. Thales and KNDS, as well as Naval Group and Safran, are, as it happens, part-owned by the French state. In these circumstances, the question of who benefits was not a particularly challenging one. Surely this wasn't supposed to happen? At the summit in May, Sir Keir Starmer said that the UK-EU agreement would 'open the door to working with the EU's new defence fund – providing new opportunities for our defence industry, supporting British jobs and livelihoods'. That was, I argued at the time, one of the main motivating factors behind the agreement. After all, the rules for Safe make it clear: Safe will also allow acceding countries, candidate countries, potential candidates and countries that have signed a security and defence partnership with the EU, such as the United Kingdom, to join common procurements. Alas, there was a brief cautionary note that Britain's participation would be 'subject to a separate negotiation and conditions, including a financial contribution from the UK'. The European Commission's spokesman for defence, Thomas Regnier, told the Financial Times that, under the terms of the agreement, UK-based companies could provide up to 35 per cent of the value of procurement through Safe, but going beyond that would depend on 'an agreement with the EU on the precise modalities on aspects such as budget contribution and security of supply'. This was inevitable. The EU is a fundamentally protectionist organisation which seeks to gain as much advantage as possible for the economies of its member states. That is not a criticism, merely an observation: but it has highlighted the disadvantages of pursuing defence policy through the EU, of which we are not a member, rather than Nato, a dedicated military alliance of which we have been part for more than 75 years. (It is true the overlap between the EU and Nato is not complete: although acting through the latter would include the US, Canada and Turkey, it would exclude the military superpowers of Austria, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus.) The Cabinet Office has offered bland, reality-defying reassurance: 'It is in all our interests for the UK and EU to bring together our unique capabilities and expertise to make Europe a safer, more secure, and more prosperous place'. Indeed so, but perhaps that is a message better directed towards the French government, while there still is one. There have been pious expressions of hope that 'parochial national interests' do not undermine Safe's potential to contribute to Europe's overall security. But this is the EU, the bare-knuckle fight club of national interests. It has weak defence institutions but strong ambitions to accrete more competencies to the centre. And the hard-edged realpolitik of Brussels is showing the relative emptiness of the clutch of bilateral agreements Starmer has concluded. There is a clear choice. What is Europe's overriding priority: building the continent's defence capabilities or strengthening national defence industrial bases? The rules governing Safe effectively choose the latter; that is a matter for member states. But perhaps the British government should not have so eagerly chased a mechanism that was bound to work to our disadvantage. The Strategic Defence Review set out a 'Nato First' policy – perhaps we should have focused more closely on that mantra.
India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
After challenging US' F-35 fighters with Rafael jets, France is now planning to compete with..., Trump should be worried because...
France's SAMPT NG missile system Bad news for US's Donald Trump: For several decades, the United States of America has dominated the global market for missile defense systems with its defence production and innovation capabilities. The defence equipment of USA including the Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system are widely deployed by NATO allies and strategic partners across the world due to their defence capabilities. However, there is an European country which has started to compete with US's defence capabilities. At first, it challenged US' F-35 fighters aircrafts with Rafael jets and now, it is planning to challenge the Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile with its SAMP/T NG missile system. Why should Donald Trump be worried? In the latest development, France has entered the global race to dominate air defense technology by unveiling its advanced SAMP/T NG missile system. Seen as a direct challenge to the American Patriot system, much like the earlier F-35 fighter jet vs Rafale jet debate in the fighter jet segment, the missile is seen as the biggest challenges for US led by President Donald Trump. Why is France's SAMP/T NG missile system dangerous? The SAMP/T NG missile of France has been developed by Thales and MBDA in collaboration with Italy. Designed to intercept ballistic missiles, drones, the fighter jets has been developed with greater accuracy and speed. With longer range, faster deployment, and modern radar tech, it could attract NATO countries looking for alternatives amid rising global tensions. US plans to supply Patriot missiles to Ukraine Meanwhile, in a significant test for the US Patriot air defence missiles, US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will send the missiles to Ukraine to help bolster the country's defences against Russian attacks. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday (local time), US President Trump explained that the European Union would purchase the missiles from the United States and then deliver them to Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
RTX, Astronics, and Diehl Lead Aerospace Lighting Market with Advanced Solutions and Global Expansion Strategies
The Aircraft Lighting Market Companies Quadrant offers an in-depth analysis of the global aircraft lighting industry, emphasizing key players, technological advances, and market trends. The quadrant evaluates over 100 companies, highlighting the top 14 leaders in EVA Films. This market, segmented by light type, technology, end user, and region, is driven by the demand for advanced aircraft due to increasing air travel. Innovations in LED lighting, energy efficiency, and passenger experience enhancements propel market growth. Key players include RTX, Astronics Corporation, Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG, Honeywell, and Thales. Dublin, July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Aircraft Lighting - Company Evaluation Report, 2024" report has been added to Aircraft Lighting Market Companies Quadrant is a comprehensive industry analysis that provides valuable insights into the global market for Aircraft Lighting Market. This quadrant offers a detailed evaluation of key market players, technological advancements, product innovations, and emerging trends shaping the industry. Over 100 companies were evaluated, of which the top 14 EVA Films companies were categorized and recognized as the quadrant aircraft lighting market encompasses a range of lighting solutions for interior, exterior, and cockpit applications, each serving crucial functions in aviation safety, efficiency, and passenger experience. The market has been segmented based on light type, technology, end user, aircraft type, and region. The growing demand for technologically advanced aircraft is one of the primary market drivers. An increase in domestic and international air travel, fueled by rising disposable incomes, expanding airline fleets, and airport infrastructure development, has further accelerated the demand for innovative and cost-effective aircraft lighting advancements, such as the adoption of LED lighting, lightweight materials, and automation in lighting control, are playing a pivotal role in transforming the market. The shift toward sustainable and energy-efficient lighting alternatives is not only reducing operational costs for airlines but also improving aircraft performance by minimizing power consumption and maintenance requirements. Moreover, the growing focus on enhancing passenger experience through mood lighting, ambient lighting, and customizable illumination systems is influencing interior lighting rise in aircraft deliveries, coupled with the increasing modernization of aging fleets, is further contributing to the expansion of the aircraft lighting market. With the demand for advanced military aircraft, business jets, and next-generation commercial airliners, the need for high-performance, long-lasting, and adaptive lighting solutions is expected to grow 360 Quadrant maps the Aircraft Lighting Market companies based on criteria such as revenue, geographic presence, growth strategies, investments, and sales strategies for the market presence of the Aircraft Lighting Market quadrant. The top criteria for product footprint evaluation included By Aircraft Type (commercial aircraft, military aircraft, helicopters, and business aviation and general aviation.) By Light Type (interior, exterior, and cockpit lights) By Technology (light-emitting diode (LED), high-intensity discharge (HID), and others (halogen, xenon strobe, photoluminescent & electroluminescent, and night vision imaging systems (NVIS))) and End User (original equipment manufacturer (OEM), aftermarket, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO)).Key Players:Key players operating in the Aircraft Lighting Market are RTX (US), Astronics Corporation (US), Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG (Germany), Honeywell International Inc. (US), and Thales (France), among CorporationRTX Corporation stands out as a leader in the aerospace and defense sector, operating through segments like Collins Aerospace. This company specializes in advanced aerospace products, including comprehensive lighting solutions for cabin, cockpit, and exterior use. RTX boasts a significant global footprint, serving diverse markets with superior product offerings and addressing emergent needs in aerospace CorporationKnown for advanced technology solutions, Astronics Corporation provides lighting and safety systems across global aerospace, defense, and electronics sectors. With its extensive product portfolio that includes cabin lighting, emergency lighting, and specialized systems for cockpit and exterior applications, Astronics has solidified its market position with robust distribution in key regions like North America, Europe, and Asia Stiftung & Co. KGDiehl Stiftung & Co. KG, a prominent player in the aerospace lighting sector, offers innovative lighting solutions across interior and exterior applications, focusing on enhancing passenger experience and operational safety. Their strategic partnerships and commitment to high-quality production have reinforced their market position. The company's continuous investment in product advancement underscores its determination to maintain competitiveness in an evolving Topics Covered: 1 Introduction1.1 Market Definition1.2 Inclusions and Exclusions1.3 Stakeholders2 Executive Summary3 Market Overview3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Dynamics3.2.1 Drivers3.2.1.1 Increasing Demand for Enhanced Passenger Comfort and Cabin Customization3.2.1.2 Growing Adoption of Smart and IoT-Connected Lighting3.2.1.3 Increasing Aircraft Production and Deliveries3.2.1.4 Stringent Aviation Safety Regulations3.2.2 Restraints3.2.2.1 High Initial Costs and Integration Complexity3.2.2.2 Limited Power Availability in Aircraft3.2.2.3 Retrofitting Issue in Older Fleets3.2.3 Opportunities3.2.3.1 Rising Number of Autonomous and Electric Aircraft3.2.3.2 Development of Next-Generation Lighting3.2.3.3 Increasing Upgrades of Aircraft Interior Lighting Systems3.2.4 Challenges3.2.4.1 High Maintenance and Replacement Costs3.2.4.2 Weight Limitations in Aircraft Design3.3 Trends and Disruptions Impacting Customer Business3.4 Value Chain Analysis3.4.1 R&D Engineers (5-20%)3.4.2 Component/Product Manufacturing (20-40%)3.4.3 Testing & Quality Assurance (40-60%)3.4.4 End-users (60-90%)3.4.5 After-Sales Service (90-100%)3.5 Ecosystem Analysis3.5.1 Prominent Companies3.5.2 Private and Small Enterprises3.5.3 End-users3.6 Key Conferences and Events, 20253.7 Technology Analysis3.7.1 Key Technologies3.7.1.1 Micro-Led Technology3.7.1.2 Advanced Thermal Management Systems3.7.2 Complementary Technologies3.7.2.1 AI-based Lighting Control Systems3.7.2.2 Biometric Integration with Lighting3.7.3 Adjacent Technologies3.7.3.1 Wireless Power Transfer Lighting3.7.3.2 Augmented Reality & Holographic Lighting3.8 Impact of AI/Generative AI3.8.1 Introduction3.8.2 Adoption of AI in Aviation Industry by Top Countries3.8.3 Impact of AI on Aviation Industry3.8.4 Impact of AI on Aircraft Lighting Market4 Industry Trends4.1 Introduction4.2 Technology Trends4.2.1 Human-Centric Cabin Lighting4.2.2 Organic Light-Emitting Diodes4.2.3 UV-C Disinfection Lighting4.2.4 Smart Lighting with IoT Integration4.2.5 Sustainable and Solar-Powered Lights4.2.6 Electrochromic Windows & Adaptive Cabin Lighting4.2.7 Electroluminescent and Fiber Optic Lighting4.3 Impact of Mega Trends4.3.1 Sustainable Aviation4.3.2 Additive Manufacturing4.3.3 Cabin 4.04.4 Supply Chain Analysis4.5 Patent Analysis5 Competitive Landscape5.1 Introduction5.2 Key Player Strategies/Right to Win, 2020-20245.3 Aircraft Interior Lights Revenue Analysis, 2020-20235.4 Aircraft Interior Lights Market Share Analysis, 20235.5 Aircraft Exterior Lights Revenue Analysis, 2020-20235.6 Aircraft Exterior Lights Market Share Analysis, 20235.6.1 Rtx (US)5.6.2 Astronics Corporation (US)5.6.3 Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG (Germany)5.6.4 Honeywell International Inc. (US)5.6.5 Thales (France)5.7 Company Evaluation Matrix (Interior Lights): Key Players, 20235.7.1 Stars5.7.2 Emerging Leaders5.7.3 Pervasive Players5.7.4 Participants5.8 Company Evaluation Matrix (Exterior Lights): Key Players, 20235.8.1 Stars5.8.2 Emerging Leaders5.8.3 Pervasive Players5.8.4 Participants5.9 Company Evaluation Matrix (Interior and Exterior Lights Combined): Key Players, 20235.9.1 Stars5.9.2 Emerging Leaders5.9.3 Pervasive Players5.9.4 Participants5.9.5 Company Footprint5.9.5.1 Company Footprint5.9.5.2 Light Type Footprint5.9.5.3 End-user Footprint5.9.5.4 Aircraft Type Footprint5.9.5.5 Region Footprint5.10 Company Evaluation Matrix (Interior Lights): Startups/SMEs, 20235.10.1 Progressive Companies5.10.2 Responsive Companies5.10.3 Dynamic Companies5.10.4 Starting Blocks5.11 Company Evaluation Matrix (Exterior Lights): Startups/SMEs, 20235.12 Company Evaluation Matrix (Interior and Exterior Lights Combined): Startups/SMEs, 20235.12.5 Competitive Benchmarking5.12.5.1 List of Startups/SMEs5.12.5.2 Competitive Benchmarking of Startups/SMEs5.13 Brand/Product Comparison5.14 Company Valuation and Financial Metrics5.15 Competitive Scenario5.15.1 Product Launches5.15.2 Deals5.15.3 Others6 Company Profiles6.1 Key Players6.1.1 Rtx6.1.1.1 Business Overview6.1.1.2 Products Offered6.1.1.3 Recent Developments6.1.1.3.1 Product Launches6.1.1.4 Analyst's View6.1.1.4.1 Key Strengths6.1.1.4.2 Strategic Choices6.1.1.4.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats6.1.2 Astronics Corporation6.1.3 Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG6.1.4 Honeywell International Inc.6.1.5 Thales6.1.6 Luminator Aerospace6.1.7 Oxley Group6.1.8 Soderberg Manufacturing Company Inc.6.1.9 Heads Up Technologies6.1.10 Aveo Engineering Group, S.R.O.6.1.11 Cobalt Aerospace Group Limited6.1.12 Bruce Aerospace6.1.13 Stg Aerospace Limited6.1.14 Hoffman Engineering6.1.15 Whelen Aerospace Technologies6.2 Other Players6.2.1 Micolux Lighting6.2.2 Jbrnd6.2.3 Sela6.2.4 Spectrolab, Inc.6.2.5 Schott6.2.6 Madelec Aero6.2.7 Precise Flight Inc.6.2.8 Ife Products6.2.9 Trakka6.2.10 Xevision For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Tahawul Tech
5 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Thales takes a key role in industrial drone project
Thales is planning to take part in Finnish drone project to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles across a variety of industrial sectors. The French multinational is set to provide the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) with an unmanned traffic management system (UTM) to handle flight authorisation, geographic information and network identification, and traffic information services. Thales explained its UTM is the first step VTT is taking in Drolo 2, a project to develop and deploy automated drone systems. Work is initially focused on U-Space Finland, a set of regulatory frameworks covering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which forms part of wider European initiatives to enable drone operations. Thales stated the frameworks could pave the way for drones to be used in fields spanning 'logistics, agriculture, forestry, airport and construction operations'. Another element of the work involves creating a business environment for the UAV industry, with an overarching goal of putting Finland in the vanguard of drone launches and testing in compliance with European regulations. A testing site is located near the city of Oulu, which Thales explained is an ideal proving ground due to having a 'medium-sized international airport, seaport, inhabited island', a mid-sized city centre and a 5G development centre. Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: Stock Image
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Solar-powered 236-foot ‘Skydweller' aircraft flies for mind-boggling 90 DAYS without stopping
AEROSPACE boffins have unveiled a solar-powered surveillance drone that can fly for several months at a time - achieving near-constant eyes in the sky. US tech startup Skydweller Aero has partnered with French defence systems specialist Thales to build a new type of maritime surveillance drone. 5 The carbon fiber drone is set to fly for up to 90 days straight - far longer than existing aircrafts, according to its creators Credit: Skydweller 5 While its initial flight milestone will be three months, the aircraft has the potential to fly almost continuously Credit: Youtube/Skydweller Aero 5 It takes it power directly from the sun, so there's no need to land and refuel Credit: Skydweller As tech on the ground gets smarter, so too must the machines in the sky. The carbon fibre drone is set to fly for up to 90 days straight - far longer than existing aircraft, according to its creators. While its initial flight milestone will be three months, the aircraft has the potential to fly almost continuously. It takes it power directly from the sun, so there's no need to land and refuel. READ MORE ON AEROSPACE In May, That's the equivalent of 1,608 hours. The Skydweller has over 17,000 individual solar cells across its approximately 2,900 square feet (270 square meters) wing surface to capture the sun's rays and convert it into power. Its wingspan is 236ft - longer than a Boeing 747. Most read in Tech Despite its similar wingspan, it weighs a whopping 160 times less than a traditional 'jumbo jet'. The surveillance drone doesn't really have capacity for much cargo either - sporting just 2.5 metric tons at maximum capacity in comparison to 400 tons for the 747 at full payload. In ideal conditions with minimal cloud cover, the solar cells can generate up to 100 kilowatts of power for the aircraft. Incredible plan for hypersonic 'Air Master' passenger plane that can hit 4,600mph & fly from London to NYC in 45 MINUTES The drone can only refuel when the sun is out, which means it relies on over 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms) of batteries to power it through the night. Skydweller flies slightly lower than the average commercial carrier, at an altitude of between 24,600 and 34,400ft, on average. However, it can fly as high as 44,600ft during the day, before dropping by between 4,900 and 9,800ft at night to minimise power consumption. Although as with any battery - these onboard batteries will degrade over time, which could limit the maximum patrol duration of the aircraft. Other incredibly lightweight solar-powered drones have suffered catastrophic mid-air failures before when ascending or descending through medium altitudes, Live Science noted. The brains behind Skydweller are hoping to avoid this by designing the aircraft to operate specifically within this flight range. Using automatic gust-load alleviation software in the flight control system, the aircraft will be able to reduce the aerodynamic loads caused by turbulence. This eye in the sky will require a quadruple-redundant flight control system and sophisticated vehicle management system (VMS) to stay in the air reliably for up to 90 days. That means if one of the onboard systems fails, a backup system can take over to maintain the flight. The VMS will also have a clever computer algorithm that allows it to diagnose and fix any problems in the system - like its very own on-board IT specialist. 5 Skydweller flies slightly lower than the average commercial carrier, at an altitude of between 24,600 and 34,400ft, on average Credit: Getty 5 In ideal conditions with minimal cloud cover, the solar cells can generate up to 100 kilowatts of power for the aircraft Credit: Getty
