Forges de Zeebrugge
 |
|
| Société Anonyme | |
| Industry | Aerospace, Defence |
| Headquarters | Herstal, Belgium |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
|
Key people
|
Alain Quévrin (CEO) |
| Products | Rocket system 70mm (2.75"), rocket, rocket launcher, firing control system |
| Revenue | €21.7 million (2014) |
|
Number of employees
|
70 (end 2015) |
| Parent | Thales Group |
| Website | www.fz.be |
Forges de Zeebrugge is an arms manufacturer in based in Herstal, Belgium.
Forges de Zeebrugge was founded as a munitions factory between Zeebrugge and Zwankendamme,[1] in the 1930s, as a subsidiary of Carcoke. During World War II, the site was taken over by German forces. Allied bombing, especially in July 1943, devastated the factory site; the original munitions factory was never rebuilt and later remediation of this site was difficult due to unexploded munitions.[2]
The surviving FZ business changed focus to rocketry.[3] In 1971, FZ bought the Fort d'Évegnée from Belgian Army, using it to store explosives.[4]
Modern-day FZ is a subsidiary of Thales, and is a leading manufacturer of aircraft air-to-ground rocket system (70mm, 2.75") including rocket launcher (7, 12 and 19 tube), rockets and firing control system.[5] FZ rocket systems are qualified and in operational use on more than 300 platforms including Airbus Helicopters, AgustaWestland, HAL[disambiguation needed], BAE Systems, Embraer, General Dynamics, Hawker Beechcraft and other aircraft manufacturers. In 2011, FZ workers briefly went on strike, in response to a Belgian government reform of arms exports - which was triggered by FN exporting arms to Libya.[6]
In October 2015, FZ has successfully completed a test firing of its 70 mm laser-guided rocket (FZ275LGR) from a Denel Rooivalk helicopter. [7]
See also
References
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