Gleiss Lutz has advised on the establishment of a joint venture between Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, German FCMS GbR and MBDA Deutschland GmbH in the area of digital and networked air defence systems.
This future joint venture will focus on cooperation between the three companies involved in the German-Franco-Spanish initiative for the development of the “Future Combat Air System" (FCAS) system of systems through what is known as a “national R&T project". FCAS is a programme for the development of a new-generation fighter: a latest-generation, digital, networked air defence system that uses various weapons platforms and systems networked together. This national R&T project aims to research various key areas around this planned, new-generation air defence system.
The basis of the joint venture is the research and development cooperation between these companies – each contributing their different competencies – geared towards innovative, future markets.
Airbus Defence and Space is part of the Airbus Group and works on defence, security and secure space-assisted applications. German FCMS is a joint venture between four German defence and technology companies – Diehl Defence, ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, Hensoldt and Rohde & Schwarz – whose purpose is to work towards achieving the technical requirements of the FCAS system. MBDA Deutschland is a subsidiary of MBDA S.A.S. and designs, develops, manufactures and maintains air defence and missile systems, components and subsystems for armed forces in the air, at sea, and on land.
Gleiss Lutz's Dr Moritz Holm-Hadulla (partner, lead) and Dr Laura Roßmann (both Competition/Antitrust, both Stuttgart) advised on the matter.