Dec 14 (Reuters) - Thales SA TCFP.PA :
* THALES AND ARMY HEADQUARTERS TO JOINTLY RESEARCH CLOSE COMBAT FAMILY OF WEAPONS
* PROJECT WILL DEVELOP WORKING LEVEL PROTOTYPES FOR A CLOSE COMBATANT ASSAULT RIFLE AND LIGHT MACHINE GUN OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS, WHILE EXAMINING ALL ASPECTS OF A WEAPON SYSTEM
* AIM IS TO HAVE BOTH WEAPON SYSTEMS READY TO COMPETE FOR CLOSE COMBATANT FAMILY OF WEAPONS IN TRANCHE 2 OF LETHALITY SYSTEM PROJECT (LAND 159) BY LATE 2023