Finmeccanica says iNavSat, Eurely could form alliance to run Galileo

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2005

ROME (AFP) — Finmeccanica chairman Pier Francesco Guarguaglini said that he believed the rival iNavSat and Eurely consortia could tie up to manage the future Galileo European satellite navigation system.

The European Commission announced Tuesday the two aerospace consortia had been retained to bid on operating the system, a 20-year deal worth three billion euros (3.9 billion dollars).

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference, Guarguaglini said: "It seems to me that the European Union made a clear invitation to find an agreement."

Italian group Finmeccanica belongs to the Eurely consortium along with Alcatel of France and Spanish firms Aena and Hispasat.

The iNavSat consortium involves the European Aeronautic Space and Defence Company (EADS), Thales...