Article Posted on : - Nov 03, 2010

PARIS (BNS): French defence company Sagem of the Safran group has joined hands with Kazakhstan Engineering, a Kazakh state-owned company, to jointly produce, support and market unmanned aerial vehicle systems in Kazakhstan.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to create a joint venture in Kazakhstan to produce and market the drones, Sagem said.

The drones manufactured by the two companies will be offered to different ministries and public companies in Kazakhstan to carry out defence, homeland security and other missions.

Sagem and Kazakhstan Engineering have started exclusive discussions to determine the procedures for collaboration and the establishment of a balanced joint venture.

The application of the agreement is subject to authorisation by the French and Kazakh governments, Sagem said.

Meanwhile, the company has also entered into an agreement with Ukrain's state-owned company, Chuguev Aircraft Repair Plant (CharZ), to produce and market tactical drone systems.

This joint venture will offer the Ukrainian ministry of defence, as well as other ministries, and public and private companies, drone systems meeting their specific defense or homeland security needs.

It will cover joint production and logistics support for these drone systems, Sagem said in a statement.

Sagem is a leading provider of tactical UAVs in the European market.