Thales has today completed the sale of its civil fixed-wing flight simulation activities to L-3 Communications. The civil fixed-wing simulation organisation has its main base of operations in Crawley, UK and will be known as L-3 Link Simulation and Training UK. The transaction also includes its flight simulation training centre located in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thales will retain and continue to develop its simulation and training business in military and government markets, as well as rotary-wing aircraft civil and military markets. The agreement includes a partnership with the buyer to secure the supply chain of civil components that Thales may require for its military business.
It is L-3’s intention to continue to operate from the current site in Crawley. Having completed a consultation process, those employees that work wholly or mainly on Thales’s fixed-wing civil aircraft training and simulation activities will now transfer across to L-3.
Marion Broughton, head of Thales UK’s aerospace business, said, "Thales will continue to develop its military simulation system capabilities, which will remain part of our key product portfolio. We feel that L-3 Communications Link Simulation and Training UK will be well positioned to maximise the potential of the civil simulation business."