PARIS In a long-overdue consolidation initiative, France will form a defense/ space “national champion” centered on Thomson-CSF. The government has decided to combine the state-controlled Thomson-CSF defense electronics company with Dassault Electronique, Aerospatiale’s satellite branch and Alcatel-Alsthom’s military telecommunication/ satellite businesses.

London Proponents of cross-border defense industry consolidation in Europe saw some progress last week when British Aerospace and Lagardere expanded their missile joint venture to include LFK, the guided-weapon subsidiary of Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA).