Thales has completed the acquisition of Tampa Microwave, a privately held company specializing in tactical satellite communications terminals and related products for defense, government, and commercial customers. The announcement follows completion of a review of the acquisition by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and its determination that there are no national security concerns with respect to the transaction.
Tampa Microwave designs, develops, and manufactures SATCOM manpack terminals that provide high-bandwidth, voice, video, and data battlefield communications at the tactical level. The company’s core competencies also include SATCOM engineering and customer support. Like many of Thales’s own products, Tampa Microwave’s manpack terminals were specifically designed for the dismounted soldiers who operate in dangerous environments.
“We are pleased to have obtained CFIUS approval for this acquisition and look forward to realizing the benefits that this new relationship will bring to our nation’s war fighters,” said Allan Cameron, president and CEO of Thales USA. “By leveraging the proven expertise of both Thales and Tampa Microwave, we plan to further expand and diversify our communications technology to meet the critical challenges war fighters are facing on the battlefield.”
Tampa Microwave will operate as a subsidiary of Thales Communications, Inc., a Thales USA company which operates under a proxy agreement with the US Department of Defense. The business will maintain its location in Tampa, Florida, and the current Tampa Microwave management team will remain unchanged.
Thales Communications is a recognized leader in developing and manufacturing tactical communications equipment that address the real-world challenges presented in size, weight, and power-constrained (SWAP) environments. By enhancing its existing resources with Tampa Microwave’s capabilities, Thales Communications will be in a position to provide customers with proven, wideband, beyond-line-of-sight communications technology.
Tampa Microwave president Eric Guerrazzi stated, "Thales and Tampa Microwave have strong reputations and consistent track records for providing customers with high-quality, reliable solutions. Partnering will enable us to field essential equipment as expeditiously as possible.”