Dassault Aviation has acquired RUAG's maintenance and FBO sites in Geneva and Lugano. RUAG's Munich-Oberpfaffenhofen is unaffected by the sale.

Dassault chairman and CEO Eric Trappier says: “The acquisition is part of our strategy to develop a worldwide MRO network of excellence and will allow Dassault Aviation to reinforce its footprint in Switzerland. RUAG has been a long-time partner of Dassault Aviation as an authorised Falcon service centre and this will consolidate our network in Geneva and Lugano. Both Geneva and Lugano FBO activities will complement the full range of services offered by Dassault Aviation in Switzerland.”

The successful sale of RUAG Business Aviation is the first transaction undertaken by RUAG International, following the strategic decision of the Swiss Federal Council to unbundle the RUAG Group and focus on the space and aerostructures markets. RUAG International is also working on solutions that offer successful futures for other businesses units within its MRO International, Ammotec and Cyber Security divisions.

RUAG Group CEO Urs Breitmeier says of this important milestone: “Dassault Aviation is an experienced partner of RUAG and can provide a strong foundation for successfully continuing operations in Geneva and Lugano, as well as for the future of the members of our staff at both sites.”

The Geneva and Lugano facilities offer a wide range of MRO services, as well as upgrades for selected private and business aircraft including Dassault, Piaggio, Bombardier, Embraer, Pilatus and Hawker Beechcraft types. As well as being EASA Part 145 certified maintenance organisations, both sites provide visiting VIP passengers, pilots and crew members with in-house FBO services. The maintenance facility at the Lugano-Agno is the only provider of MRO services for business jets at the airport.

The acquisition follows Dassault Aviation's recent purchase of the European maintenance activities of TAG Aviation Group earlier this year, saying it intended to further develop a network of excellence and to support TAG's clients, while expanding the share of Falcon maintenance activities controlled by the Dassault Group.

In January the OEM also acquired the worldwide maintenance activities of ExecuJet, a Luxaviation subsidiary, in order to strengthen its global footprint, especially in Asia-Pacific, Oceania, Middle-East and Africa.