AIO legally established in 1982 under the Investment Law No. 43 of 74, as a joint investment company between the Egyptian Ministry of Defense by 51% and the British USH Group of companies by 49%. The French Multinational Company, Thales, Acquired 49% interest in AIO, Construction of custom built factory for AIO started in 1984 on a plot of land measuring 87,000 square meters situated at El-Salam City on the outskirts of Cairo.