SILKAN RT : CMI Defence and SILKAN join strengths to create AGUERIS, a new player in land forces simulation and training

Press Release May 28, 2015 CMI Defence and SILKAN join strengths to create AGUERIS, a new player in land forces simulation and training

CMI Defence SAS, the French subsidiary of CMI group (Cockerill Maintenance & Ingenierie), a leader in multifunctional, high-effect weapon systems for light and medium weight armored vehicles and a provider of technical and training assistance, and SILKAN, French leader in virtual simulation and real time interconnection applied to critical systems, create together a joint venture named AGUERIS. This company aims at becoming a new leader in the field of land forces simulation and training.
The two companies write a new chapter of their common history. Indeed, SILKAN and CMI Defence have been working together for several years in order to design, develop and deploy a new simulator solution for turret crew training. This collaboration enabled the development of a world premiere: the first turret embedded training simulation, using the real equipment connected with an instructor station as the simulator.
Created on April 30 2015, AGUERIS ambitions to become a reference player in the field, with an extensive offer in technical and tactical training simulators for the land forces, and the development of innovative technological products in modeling and simulation.
'AGUERIS will enable CMI Defence to remain present alongside our customers, throughout the lifecycle of our products, with a comprehensive and competitive range of products and services associated with our weapon systems portfolio' says Jean-Luc Maurange, Chairman and CEO of CMI Defence.
For SILKAN, and his Chairman and CEO François Guérineau,'the alliance with an industry group the size of CMI Defence will allow to maintain the lead already acquired by SILKAN's team in the field of land forces simulation, offering a range of reference products internationally. Technological partnership with AGUERIS will strengthen SILKAN's position on its own markets, especially simulation and training solutions for aeronautics'.
AGUERIS is based near Paris, in Meudon (France). The members of its management committee originate from Defense and Training and Simulation. Bernard Clermont will be AGUERIS' Chairman and CEO, Emmanuel Chiva will be deputy GM and chief strategy officer and Benoit Rolland is appointed as Chief Operating Officer. AGUERIS is already engaged on a number of projects ensuring its rapid development.

About CMI Defence

Throughout the world, the Cockerill name embodies long-standing excellence in flexible, low-weight, high-impact, weapon systems. Under the CMI Company, the Cockerill brand is successfully delivering cutting-edge capability to modern high- mobility land forces. The core of the Cockerill brand - heavy firepower at light weight - remains constant. Recognized as designer and integrator of weapon systems, CMI Defence offers a complete capability solution including hardware, comprehensive training, simulation, spares, maintenance support and through-life capability upgrade services. CMI Defence is the undisputed leader in multifunctional, high-power weapon systems for light and medium weight armoured vehicles.

About SILKANIn the area of complex systems SILKAN develops and provides leading-edge solutions to support Interactive training simulators and real time systems. SILKAN's solutions are innovative, cost-effective and are developed in-house using strong technical and industrial expertise. This leads to SILKAN's strong presence in such sectors as Aerospace & Defense, Transport and Energy. Headquartered in Meudon-la-Forêt, near Paris, France, SILKAN, 60 people, has several offices in France and a bureau in Canada.

More information: www.silkan.com; Press contact: Jean-Pierre CARSALADE [phone] [e-mail]