BAE Systems and Thales Announce Teaming Arrangement in Combat ID.

GREENLAWN, N.Y. -- BAE Systems and Thales have formed a teaming arrangement to provide an advanced, cost-effective combat identification capability for ground vehicles. The system is being developed in anticipation of a U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps requirement for a ground vehicle combat identification capability. As programme lead, the U.S. Army is expected to seek proposals later this year.

Focusing on the ground-to-ground domain, the BAE Systems and Thales team will offer a battlefield target identification (BTID) device that combines Thales's advanced millimeter-wave technology with BAE Systems' extensive network-centric and platform integration experience.

"In today's combat environment, ground forces need timely target identification information to effectively engage enemy forces," said Paul Markwardt, vice president and general manager of Identification and Situational Awareness for BAE Systems in Greenlawn, New York. "The BAE Systems-Thales team will deliver a capability to effectively distinguish friendly forces in a system that is NATO-compliant and compatible with coalition forces."

The BTID system will consist of interrogators and transponders. Combined interrogator and transponder devices will be mounted on direct-fire ground combat vehicles and transponder-only devices deployed on all other platforms. The interrogator can "ask" platforms within its field of view to identify themselves, with the transponders replying to identify vehicles as friendly.

The system will use digital data link technology that allows real-time position information to be transferred to other platforms and small units, including dismounted forces, and to be seen in the tactical situational awareness picture.

About BAE Systems:

BAE Systems is a global defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions, and customer support services. BAE Systems, with 88,000 employees worldwide, had 2006 sales that exceeded $25 billion.

About Thales:

Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, serving defence, aerospace, and security markets worldwide, supported by a comprehensive services offering. The group's civil and military businesses develop in parallel to serve a single objective: the security of people, property, and nations. Thales employs 60,000 people in 50 countries and generated revenues of $12.7 billion in 2005.