A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Cassidian on behalf of EADS Deutschland GmbH and Alenia Aeronautica to jointly investigate the potential cooperation in the field of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV).

Alenia and Cassidian are aiming to strengthen their technological know-how in order to establish a leading role in the UAS market. Thanks to this agreement, the two companies will analyze the requirements expressed by each of their respective Governments in the UAS sector with the objective to create a strategic partnership and to expand their global UAS market share.

Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica and Alenia Aermacchi who is also responsible for Finmeccanica's Aeronautics Sector, commented: "The signing of this agreement is important for Alenia Aeronautica because it allows us to collaborate with a capable player in the sector of UAS, favoring the growth of our ability to design, build, integrate and support a complex system for the global market, both civil and military. The UAS sector has a strategic importance for the future of Alenia Aeronautica's programs and we are convinced that this agreement will allow us to become even more competitive in this quickly expanding market”.

Bernhard Gerwert, Chief Operating Officer of Cassidian, said: "We look forward to investigating further collaboration with Alenia Aeronautica around a next generation MALE UAS, like for instance, the Talarion which is of outmost importance for Europe's military aviation industry. It will fulfill government security missions and commercial applications which cannot be implemented with current solutions and their derivatives”.

Talarion is the European program for a next-generation Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to fulfill the requirements initially placed by France, Germany and Spain for future unmanned long endurance surveillance and reconnaissance missions. First flight of the prototype is scheduled for 2015 with first series deliveries starting in 2018.