Thales Group

Thales S.A. is a French multinational corporation specializing in aerospace, defense, and electronics, headquartered in Paris, France. It operates in over 68 countries and employs approximately 83,000 people worldwide. The company is publicly traded on Euronext Paris and is a component of the CAC 40 index. Thales S.A. is known for its expertise in areas such as defense and security, aerospace, space, and transport, providing high-tech solutions, services, and products to governments, organizations, and businesses. In 2023, the company generated €18.4 billion in revenue. Thales S.A. is investing in digital and deep tech innovations, including Big Data, artificial intelligence, connectivity, cybersecurity, and quantum technology, to build a future that can be trusted. The company has a diverse product portfolio, including tactical radios, remote-controlled weapon stations, radars, infantry mobility vehicles, aerospace electronics, and aeronautics. Thales S.A. is also involved in the development of space-based systems, including satellites and ground segments, used for telecommunications, navigation, earth observation, space exploration, and scientific purposes. The company has been involved in various joint ventures, such as Thales Alenia Space, a European spaceflight services joint venture between Thales Group (67%) and Italian defense conglomerate Leonardo (33%). Thales S.A. is also known for its involvement in the International Space Station (ISS), having produced numerous pressurized modules, including the Cupola, the Harmony and Tranquility nodes, the Columbus laboratory, and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft. The company is a major industrial participant in Europe's Copernicus program, fully dedicated to environmental monitoring. Thales S.A. has also been involved in the development of the Meteosat European weather satellites, with the third generation, Meteosat Third Generation (MTG), still under development. The first MTG imaging satellite, MTG-I1, was successfully launched by Arianespace in late 2022. Thales S.A. has a history of mergers and acquisitions, including the acquisition of Signaal from Philips in 1990, which led to the formation of Thales Nederland. The company has also been involved in various defense contracts and has faced legal challenges, including investigations into alleged corruption in multiple countries. Despite these challenges, Thales S.A. continues to be a leading player in the aerospace and defense industry, providing innovative solutions and products to its global clientele.