Thales, Cannes

European aerospace manufacturer Thales Alenia Space has opened a new optical integration production facility in Cannes.

The facility will be used for the integration and testing of optical observation instruments that will help present optical observation programmes of the company, which is based in Cannes.

Additionally, it will also help develop the export market for high-resolution systems of Thales Alenia Space.

The new building is spread across an area of 1,500m² with four separate integration zones to handle four satellites simultaneously.

It also has strictly controlled clean rooms, an airlock entrance, control rooms and machine rooms.

"It will also help develop the export market for high-resolution systems of Thales Alenia Space."

The clean rooms conduct the optical test bench assembly and thermal chamber used to measure optical performance without outside disturbances such as air turbulence and vibrations. The rooms have an area of 300m² and 500m².

Expansion of the building is part of its Odyssée programme, which started to expand the Cannes production site in 2008.

Thales Alenia Space said that its satellite demand, especially optical observation satellites is growing, as countries want their own systems to gather high-precision intelligence photos independently.

Thales has also invested €8m as part of its strategic plan, which aims to increase satellite export sales, mainly optical observation models.

Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales and Finmeccanica with each having a respective stake of 67% and 33%.

Image: Thales Alenia Space openes a new optical integration production facility in Cannes. Photo: courtsey of Thales Group.