Thales and AIO Strengthen Partnership to Boost Egypt’s Technological Sovereignty
The reinforced partnership is aimed at transforming Egypt into a regional technology hub, capable of supporting and exporting high-value, locally produced solutions to domestic and international markets.
African Media Agency (AMA) reports that Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies across Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors, has reinforced its long-standing partnership with Arab International Optronics (AIO) to advance Egypt’s ambitions in technological sovereignty, innovation, and regional leadership.
For over 50 years, Thales has supported Egypt’s vision for growth and sovereignty. The renewed collaboration leverages the expertise of over 800 engineers and professionals to develop “Made in Egypt” solutions, reflecting a commitment to local innovation and self-reliance.
The partnership will expand cooperation across six key domains. A major initiative includes the establishment of the Thales Academy in Egypt, designed to develop expertise among Egyptian forces, government, and civilian institutions in areas such as optronics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, radio telecommunications, and radar. The academy will offer certified training led by Thales experts and foster collaboration between Egyptian and French universities.
In defence technology, the collaboration will enhance Fire Control Systems (FCS) by developing upgrade kits for heavy armoured vehicles, improving battlefield efficiency. Remote Controlled Weapon Systems (RCWS) will be upgraded with laser-guided rocket capabilities incorporated into AIO’s X29 systems using advanced Thales technology.
Surveillance capabilities will be strengthened with the provision of combat-proven solutions, including Thales ground radar and Hand-Held Thermal Imagers (HHTI), integrated into a unified command and control system for fast threat detection and identification. A dedicated service centre will also be developed within AIO’s premises to support the deployed Thales HHTI systems.
The collaboration extends to the supply chain, integrating AIO components into Thales’ manufacturing processes. This integration will enhance Thales’ product throughput and competitiveness while further developing AIO’s industrial capabilities.
The reinforced partnership is aimed at transforming Egypt into a regional technology hub, capable of supporting and exporting high-value, locally produced solutions to domestic and international markets.
