[quote="Opa, post:2528, topic:271"]\nI tried to search – but couldn’t find – a reference to this NuWays statement regarding extensive tests of Bittium’s solutions in relation to Safran & the French army.\n\nBittium and Safran have been involved in the iMUGS project, and similarly, the interoperability of equipment from various manufacturers, such as Bittium & Thales, has been tested in the ESSOR project.\n\nIf NuWays has information that testing has been extensive, one can deduce that we are closer to deals than just planning things, as is being spun in Bittium’s press release.\n\nOk, not everything that has been done needs to be written into a press release, but NuWays writes something that it would be nice to get confirmation on.\n\n[/quote]\n\nOr could it be that the NuWays analyst has done better research than another analyst and, for example, called the company’s management and challenged them to get more information, while another has simply drawn their own conclusions from the company’s press release without delving deeper into the matter, or perhaps by contacting the company and asking for clarifications on this press release and agreement and how it was reached.
[quote="PR1000, post:2523, topic:271"]\n“Safran, with the French army, have extensively tested Bittium’s tactical communications solutions, which makes the MoU a key validation of Bittium’s technology stack in a strategic market.”\n\n[/quote]\n\nHi @Karoliina_Malmi, below are a few questions if you are able to answer them.\n\n1. NuWays writes in its analysis published today that Safran and the French army have already extensively tested Bittium’s tactical communications solutions. Can you confirm this? Which Bittium products or solutions have been tested, and how far along is the testing?\n2. In June 2025, you announced an approximately EUR 2.2 million delivery based on Tough SDR for trial use by the special forces of an unnamed European country. Was this France, or can you otherwise comment on whether this previous pilot is related to the newly announced Safran cooperation?\n3. The Safran cooperation mentions potential joint development and production in France. Could the cooperation progress into a licensing and technology transfer model similar to the Spanish Indra agreement, and is that the goal?\n4. Is the Safran cooperation already targeting a concrete procurement program or tender of the French armed forces, or at this stage are you just mapping out potential projects?\n\nThanks
It doesn’t rule it out, but it substantially reduces the fear that Thales could still steamroll the market to the point where smaller Bittium wouldn’t be able to compete.
The state is always involved in these contracts. And if I’m not mistaken, there was even a general present at the signing ceremony. Did they invite him just for fun? I certainly interpret this to mean that the state wants a competing alternative. Of course, companies also want to sell—to other places besides France. On the other hand, why even draw up such a paper, since you can get radios and other products off the shelf just by ordering them. The answer is very simple, and it’s the political will to have a French company involved. Of course, it’s hard to get exact information on these matters, but my own interpretation is indeed that business will almost inevitably come from this, and it will come through a licensing model. The press release is quite clear. It outlines the goal of getting production into France. That production is certainly not ramped up without a strong belief that sales will follow.
Finally, a small observation. You seem to equate this yourself to an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) like the one with Indra, even though the correct term is a letter of intent / memorandum of understanding [Note: yhteisymmärryspöytäkirja = MOU, aiesopimus = letter of intent]. The agreement made with Indra before the licensing deal was called a letter of intent, and it became public on a somewhat rushed schedule when the Spanish Minister of Defense blurted out Bittium’s name in a post—at first it was even slightly denied and stated that cooperation was just at the very beginning, and a week later the aforementioned letter of intent was released. Things are on pretty much the same timeline with France—it has surely been clear since the spring that they want to make this type of document. And these terms do make a difference. A memorandum of understanding specifically indicates that the governmental or public side is more heavily involved. A letter of intent is more of an inter-company document.
I feel like in Spain the state was pushing the gas pedal much harder. Of course, this agreement needs the state’s blessing; otherwise, there would be no point in starting this cooperation if the state wasn’t interested in the final results of the collaboration. It is also in the interest of the French state to give Thales another almost domestic competitor. However, in Spain, I think the situation is quite different—there the state dropped Elbit and switched to Indra-Bittium. In France, Thales hasn’t been dropped anywhere, at least not yet in my opinion. Safran-Bittium will likely get at least some slice of the market. An excellent decision, in my opinion, by the French state to bring in Safran-Bittium to pace Thales.
Good point,
indeed, there was a French army general present at the signing ceremony, specifically to emphasize that political will.
Bittium was today involved in the Stock Exchange Foundation (Pörssisäätiö) event. CEO Toljamo.
It’s impressive execution and the outlook for the coming years is tremendously great.
This presentation highlighted the following:
-
France wants to. France.
-
In Spain, Thales was beaten (almost on their home turf, a remarkably direct comment, though it already came up months ago in an article by Talouselämä. Not many seemed to notice, but back then Toljamo put it roughly like this: “Indra looked at who has the best radio and concluded that we do. Even though the French put significant lobbying effort toward Spain”)
-
Germany and Japan were directly compared to France as protectionist markets. “Germany and Japan… I won’t comment on those yet.” No comment other than bringing them up. Deals are being cooked up for these markets as well.