About Us

Timeline

  • 1965
  • Sercel founded as electronics company in France.
  • 1978
  • NAVSTAR (Navigation System with Timing And Ranging), now known as GPS (Global Positioning System), launched by U.S. Department of Defense for military use, with 11 satellites in orbit.
  • 1980
  • GPS atomic clocks onboard satellites activated.
  • MLR Electronique, a radio-navigation (and later consumer GPS) company is founded in France.
  • 1982
  • First GLONASS satellites launched by the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense.
  • 1983
  • GPS declassified by President Reagan after a Korean Airliner was shot down by Soviet fighters. GPS moves from pure military effort to public project.
  • 1985
  • First European GPS receiver developed by Sercel.
  • 1986
  • Magellan Systems Corporation consumer GPS company founded in California.
  • 1987
  • Ashtech Corporation, a professional products GPS company, is founded in California.
  • 1989
  • Magellan NAV 1000 introduced as the world's first commercial handheld GPS receiver.
  • First differential GPS receiver introduced by Ashtech Corporation.
  • 1994
  • Orbital Sciences Corporation acquires Magellan Systems Corporation.
  • 1995
  • Full constellation of 24 GPS satellites in orbit; system declared fully operational.
  • 1996
  • Sercel sells its radio-positioning division to Dassault Electronique. A joint venture is formed under the name Dassault Sercel Navigation Positioning.
  • U.S. President Clinton authorizes SA to be phased out to provide civilians worldwide with greater GPS accuracy.
  • 1997
  • Magellan introduces first handheld global satellite communicator; the GSC 100.
  • Magellan Systems merges with Ashtech Corporation to become Magellan Corporation.
  • Magellan launches world's first handheld GPS receiver priced under $100.
  • 1998
  • Dassault Electronique becomes full owner of Dassault Sercel N.P.
  • 1999
  • Dassault Electronique merges with two Thomson-CSF subsidiaries. The three become one company; Thomson-CSF Detexis. Following merger, Dassault Sercel Navigation Positioning becomes DSNP.
  • 2000
  • DSNP acquires MLR Electronique. The same year, Thomson-CSF changes its name to Thales Group.
  • Selective Availability phased out as a result of the 1996 executive order by U.S. President Clinton. Civilians can now achieve 10-15 meter accuracy, compared to the previously available 100-meter accuracy. This is a major win for the GPS industry and for GPS consumers.
  • 2001
  • As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thales Group, DSNP changes its name to Thales Navigation, S.A.
  • July Thales Group acquires Magellan Corporation, merges it with Thales Navigation, S.A. to form Thales Navigation, a global GPS leader.
  • 2006
  • August Thales Navigation is acquired by a group of investors led by Shah Capital Partners. Company is renamed Magellan.