Thales

Thales is involved in the French ASMPA mid-life upgrade and the M51 missile adaptation for French submarines.

Nuclear Weapons |  Investments 

Company Profile

Thales is a French-headquartered company engaged in digital identity and cybersecurity, defence and security, aerospace and space.[i] The French state (26.06%) and aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation (26.05%) are the main shareholders of Thales.[ii] Thales is involved in the French ASMPA mid-life upgrade and the M51 missile adaptation for French submarines. For the financial year ending 31 December 2023, Thales reported sales of € 18.4 billion.[iii]

Thales has a 35% shareholding in Naval Group, a French-law Public Limited Company which, on 31 December 2023, was, in addition to Thales’ share, owned for 62.25% by the French State, 1.74% by the Group’s employees and former employees through the company employee mutual fund, 0.99% by the company Naval Group Actionnariat and 0.02% directly by employees of the company.[iv]

[i] About Thales (no date) | Thales Group. Available at: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/global/group (Accessed: 12 December 2024).

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] ’Thales reports its 2023 full-year results.’ Thales, 5 March 2024. Available at: Thales reports its 2023 full-year results | Thales Group.

[iv] Governance (no date) | Naval Group. Available at: https://www.naval-group.com/en/governance-26 (Accessed: 12 December 2024).

Contact information

Thales Headquarters

Tour Carpe Diem

31 Place des Corolles – CS 20001

92098 Paris La Defense Cedex

France

 

Website: www.thalesgroup.com

X: @thalesgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thales

 

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.

Investments

Last updated: 2025-02-27 19:58:46

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