L-3 Communications will pay $132 million to acquire the assets of Thales Training & Simulation’s civil aircraft simulation and training business, based in Crawley, U.K. The acquisition, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close this summer.
The business, which employs about 400 people, manufactures commercial flight simulation equipment, with an installed base of more than 540 simulators and a significant global customer roster. The business also operates a training center in Asia. Its advanced civil aircraft simulators are FAA, ICAO and EASA compliant.
“With this acquisition, L-3 will strengthen its existing military training and simulation business by adding full flight simulator capability and expanding into the civil simulation market. The business, when combined with our existing military training and simulation business, will enable L-3 to offer a full range of total training system solutions to military and commercial customers,” said Michael T. Strianese, L-3’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The result for L-3 will be a diversified and expanded simulation and training business and an increased global presence and growth outlook.”
Pending the successful completion of this transaction, Thales Training & Simulation will be integrated into the L-3 Link Simulation & Training organization, which is part of L-3’s Electronic Systems Group.