ELT and Thales Form Naval EW Joint Venture
Equally owned Thales ELT Naval EW Solutions will combine both companies' naval electronic warfare portfolios for export markets.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Cybersecurity
ELT Group and Thales DMS have established a joint venture named Thales ELT Naval EW Solutions, owned equally by both companies. The venture will combine the naval electronic warfare product portfolios of the two firms, focusing on export markets.
Why it matters
The joint venture targets opportunities in a rapidly growing strategic market and aims to accelerate development of advanced solutions for naval platform protection. It builds on more than two decades of collaboration between ELT and Thales.
The venture combines Electronic Support Measures and Electronic Countermeasures solutions across both companies' naval electronic warfare portfolios. Specific capability metrics and technical specifications were not disclosed in the announcement.
The players
Thales
Thales is a French multinational aerospace, defense, and technology company with a long-standing presence in naval electronic warfare.
ELT Group
ELT Group is an Italian electronics company specializing in electronic warfare and defense systems, and a longtime partner of Thales.
Matthieu Bouquet
Matthieu Bouquet is the Thales-appointed Chairman of the joint venture for its initial term.
Gianni Maratta
Gianni Maratta is the ELT-appointed Chief Executive Officer of the joint venture for its initial term.
The details
Thales ELT Naval EW Solutions is governed by a Thales-appointed Chairman, Matthieu Bouquet, and an ELT-appointed Chief Executive Officer, Gianni Maratta, both serving initial terms. The partnership extends the existing SIGEN consortium work supporting the Italian and French Navies.
Timeline
Joint venture established; leadership serves initial term with no end date specified.
The Tech Race
The venture formalizes a two-decade partnership into a dedicated export vehicle, extending the SIGEN consortium's work for the Italian and French Navies. It positions the two firms to compete more directly in the European naval electronic warfare market.
For most readers the venture has no direct effect, as its products serve navies in export markets. Its significance lies in the consolidated naval electronic warfare offerings available to allied defense buyers.
The takeaway
Consolidation among defense-electronics suppliers can concentrate expertise and simplify procurement for allied navies. Watch how the venture's export offerings develop in the coming years.
Further reading
For more on defense-tech partnerships, explore Cybersecurity coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by APDR.
