Uralvagonzavod and the French company Sagem Defense Securite (a member of Safran Group) signed an agreement of intentions. The document was signed by Uralvagonzavod Director-General Oleg Sienko and Sagem Defense Securite PDG Philippe Petitcolin, Uralvagonzavod’s press service reports.

The ceremony took place on the first day of the 2nd International Forum on Machine-Building Technologies 2012 (TVM 2012) that was held in Moscow Region-based Zhukovsky on the premises of Rossiya Exhibition Center in Ramenskoye Airfield.

Safran Group has been cooperating with the Russian industry in the field of engine-building for about two decades: the company worked with Saturn Scientific Production Association to create Engine SaM 146 for Sukhoi SuperJet 100 and set up a JV for the production of inertial navigation systems for combat air force and helicopters on the Russian soil that is the country’s first such JV in the field of military technological collaboration. The two parties are positive that Uralvagonzavod and Sagem Defense Securite’s cooperation will be mutually beneficial.

‘Russia is a strategic partner that we plan to work with in quite a few fields. The agreement we were happy to sign today will ensure mutually beneficial cooperation conditions. This is not about our company selling the goods produced in France but about setting up a joint venture that will manufacture a competitive product and will use it to break into the global markets. First of all, we’ll carry out a detailed analysis of all the most favorable and expedient collaboration opportunities. Then, we’ll decide on the projects that we’ll concentrate on,’ Petitcolin said.

Oleg Sienko also took part in a plenary session of the forum, attended by about 1,000 delegates. The agenda of the session covered such issues as government support and legal backup of the industry’s hi tech development, international cooperation of machine-building enterprises, and the interrelations between science and education on the one hand and production on the other.

The agenda of the forum covers Oboronexpo 2012 (an arms exhibition) and Mashpromexpo 2012 (an industrial technologies exhibition). Over 300 companies from Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, France, Germany, India, China, and Austria take part in the event. Uralvagonzavod presented its actual vehicles and models, made e-presentations, and displayed some printed materials. The upgraded T-90C tank and tank support fighting vehicle BMPT were the new features at the forum and have already attracted the attention of Latin American and African experts.