(AOF) – Thales and LuxCarta, a company specializing in geospatial products derived from space imagery, are joining forces to offer intelligence and military mapping solutions optimized through Artificial Intelligence (AI). This agreement strengthens the informal partnership already in place between the two companies since 2020. In military planning, it is essential to quickly obtain accurate geospatial data, which facilitates operational decision-making. The partnership agreement between Thales and LuxCarta meets this need.
Thales has recognized expertise in the production of military and intelligence maps with in-depth knowledge of the technical standards specific to the military sector. The Group supports the armed forces by creating precise and reliable maps from scanned and vectorized satellite images.
LuxCarta is at the forefront of AI for building geospatial solutions through its BrightEarth platform. The company produces very large-scale map data in a very short time to meet the needs of its civilian markets. Thales has transposed this know-how to the defense sector and integrated it into its cartographic production chains and its military intelligence systems.
For intelligence and military mapping, AI is useful especially for photo-interpretation. It automatically detects, interprets and digitizes buildings, road networks, obstacles, vehicles, etc. By automating certain repetitive tasks, AI saves time during map production and allows teams to focus on high value-added activities.
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Key points
– First or second in electronics for civil satellites, mission systems and sensors for defence, air traffic management, data protection and SIM cards and smart payments, created in 2020;
– Revenues of €17 billion from defense & security for 54%, aerospace for 28%, digital identity and security for 19% and civil aeronautics for 7%;
– International presence, 24% for France, 29% for other European countries, 14% in Asia, 12% in North America and 9% in the Middle East;
– Business model based on 4 pillars: the strength of R&D, at 20% of sales, synergies between businesses drawn from a deep knowledge of the markets, an extensive base of digital assets and a global presence in + 50 countries ;
– Capital locked by 2 shareholders in concert, Dassault Aviation (24.63%) and the French State (25.68%), Patrice Caine being Chairman and CEO of the 16-member Board of Directors;
-Sound financial position with debt rated A-, sharply reduced to €894m at the end of June compared to €7.6bn in equity.
Challenges
– Strategy to refocus on aerospace, defense & security and digital identity & security;
– Innovation strategy supported by R&D close to 20%:
– global ecosystem bringing together 1/3 of the workforce, with a portfolio of more than 23,000 patents, 6 hubs, 3 digital factories and 50 academic partnerships;
– focus on 5 digital areas of expertise: connectivity, bid data, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, via the AI@Centech program and the quantum TrUE AI approach;
– Low carbon environmental strategy:
– 25% reduction in direct CO2 emissions in 2023, 50% in 2030 (vs 2018) and net zero objective in 2040,
– 100% of eco-designed products and services by 2023,
– launches of green loans,
– 4 priorities: environmental management, flight optimization, air traffic management, training and signaling;
– Acceleration of activities, obtaining contracts and investments in defense and security (2/3 of estimated profits) and aerospace (15%);
– Acquisitions of Excellium and S21sec (security division) and AAC (sonars);
– Visibility with a record order book boosted by the entry into force of Rafale sales in the United Arab Emirates and, more generally, by Defense & Security needs.
Challenges
– Tensions in supply chains, in particular semiconductors and inflation: resilience of supply chains, ramping up of recruitment and transfer of purchasing costs to customers;
– Impact of advances in avionics and biometrics with the resumption of air traffic and then R&D investments in quantum sensors, cloud security and data processing in IoT;
– Pace of aerospace orders lower than that of the group;
– After a jump of 41% in order intake and 9.6% in revenue at the end of September 2022, 2022 objectives confirmed: revenue up close to 5.5% and operating margin of 10.8 to 11, 1%.
– 2022 interim dividend of €0.70 paid in December and share buybacks.
The end of a duopoly?
For several decades, the American Boeing and the European Airbus have shared 99% of the world market for airliners with more than 110 seats. This market weighs more than 100 billion dollars per year. However, this duopoly seems to be weakened in 2022 for several reasons. First, for the first time, two medium-haul single-aisle aircraft, the Chinese Comac’s C919 and the Russian Irkut’s MC-21, are about to enter service. Added to this is the Boeing 737 MAX crisis. With the cessation of deliveries of this aircraft between 2019 and 2021, the production balance has been broken. In 2021 Boeing posted 340 deliveries, with Airbus remaining well ahead with 611.