Thales is involved in the French ASMPA mid-life upgrade and the M51 missile adaptation for French submarines.
Nuclear Weapons
Thales states it “does not design, produce or sell nuclear weapons”.[i] The company adds it is one of the “140+ direct suppliers on the French nuclear missile program, making electronic systems in line with our main areas of expertise, that are not specific to the nuclear nature of the missile”.[ii] According to the French Ministry of Defence, however, Thales SIX is one of MBDA’s main six subcontractors in the French ASMPA mid-life upgrade.[iii] The ASMPA is a medium-range air-to-ground nuclear armed cruise missile, and part of the French nuclear arsenal.[iv]
The French Ministry of Defence also lists Naval Group, of which Thales has 35% ownership, as the main contractor for the M51 missile adaptation for the French nuclear submarines.[v] Naval Group is also currently developing a third-generation nuclear armed submarine (SNLE 3G) for France.[vi] The programme is aimed at replacing the four Le Triomphant nuclear armed submarines, with delivery starting in 2035.[vii] Thales is contracted by the French Ministry of Defence to develop a new sonar suite for these third-generation nuclear armed submarines.[viii]
Furthermore, Thales Glasgow was awarded an £169 million contract in July 2023 to provide ‘optronic masts’ for all four future nuclear deterrent submarines (HMS Dreadnought, Valiant, Warspite, and George VI).[ix] These periscopes support communications on top of assisting with targeting, navigation and situational awareness.[x]
[i] Incorporating CSR principles all along the value chain (no date) | Thales. Available at: Incorporating CSR principles all along the value chain | Thales Group (Accessed: 12 December 2024).
[ii] Thales Group, written response to PAX, dated 6 October 2023. See also ‘Building a future we can all trust: Safer, greener and more inclusive’, Thales’ inaugural ESG Investor Day, Thales (2021), p. 61. Available at: Présentation PowerPoint (thalesgroup.com).
[iii] ‘Projet annuel de performances. Budget général. Projets Annuels de Performances. Annexe au Projet de Loi de Finances pour 2025: Programme 146. Équipement des forces’, RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (2024), p. 32. Available at: https://www.budget.gouv.fr/documentation/file-download/24758.
[iv] ASMPA (no date) | MBDA Missile Systems. Available at: https://www.mbda-systems.com/product/asmpa/ (Accessed: 12 December 2024).
[v] ‘Projet annuel de performances. Budget général. Projets Annuels de Performances. Annexe au Projet de Loi de Finances pour 2025: Programme 146. Équipement des forces’, RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (2024), p. 30. Available at: https://www.budget.gouv.fr/documentation/file-download/24758.
[vi] Submarines (no date) | Naval Group. Available at: Submarines | Naval Group (naval-group.com) (Accessed: 12 December 2024).
[vii] Ibid; ‘Naval Group Begins Construction of France’s Third-Gen Nuclear Submarine’. The Defense Post, 25 March 2024. Available at: Naval Group Begins Construction of France’s Third-Gen Nuclear Submarine.
[viii] Thales to provide new-generation sonar suite for France’s nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs). Thales, 11 July 2023. Available at: Thales to provide new-generation sonar suite for France’s nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs) | Thales Group.
[ix] Scope for success as historic Glasgow firm wins £169m contract for Dreadnought ‘periscopes’. Royal Navy News, 13 July 2023. Available at: Scope for success as historic Glasgow firm wins £169m contract for Dreadnought ‘periscopes’.
[x] Ibid.