Pretoria-based military software solutions provider Fulcrum Solutions has concluded a cooperation agreement with German-French multinational European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), to work together on future South African aerospace and defence projects.
Fulcrum Solutions technical director Andre Muller says the agreement positions the companies to cooperate in the marketing and development of command and control (C2) and intelligence and surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) systems for the local military.
Muller says the proposed localisation and implementation of EADS`s existing C2 and ISR systems would be dependent on securing a tender from South African parastatal aerospace and defence group Armscor. The tender is expected to be awarded later this year.
The cooperation deal between the companies was concluded specifically for the South African National Defence Force`s (SANDF`s) acquisition programmes.
EADS`s C2 and ISR "battle-proven" systems have been in successful use for peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations in various countries, such as Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo, says Muller.
He adds that EADS would provide the know-how and technology for the project, while Fulcrum would be responsible for marketing, development, localisation and adoption of the software.
The C2 and ISR project would form part of the SANDF`s efforts to increase its tactical intelligence capability, and South African peacekeeping forces would deploy the systems locally and internationally.
Fulcrum Solutions, says Muller, focuses on the design, development, integration and implementation of defence solutions, control systems and command and control solutions. The company has more than seven years of experience in this field. Fulcrum, he says, has a security-certified laboratory used for local and international clients, while all its engineers have a "secret" security clearance.
"Fulcrum, with its black economic empowerment shareholder, is the only 100% South African-owned private company able to offer a full battle-proven command and control solution to the SANDF," notes Muller.
EADS, which also holds large stakes in Airbus and Daimler-Chrysler, generated revenue of EUR31.8 billion in 2004.
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