Thales Group
The Thales Group is a global electronics company serving aerospace, defence, and information technology markets worldwide.
Established (under a different name) in France more than a century ago, it now has operations in more than 30 countries and 65,000 employees, and generated 11.1 billion euros in revenues in 2002.
The stock of Thales is part of the CAC 40 stock market index.
In 2002 Thales set up the joint venture company Armaris with the French shipbuilder DCN. The new company will exploit the combined capabilites to offer a total "bottom up" shipbuilding capability.
In 2003 Thales UK's design won the competition for the Royal Navy Future Carrier (CVF) and the company will participate in an alliance company with BAE Systems and the UK Ministry of Defence. This Thales design may form the basis of the Future French aircraft carrier which the company has agreed to build with DCN.
Thales is part of the Airtanker consortium, the winning bid for the RAF's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft.
History
In 1996, an EU directive forced the privatization of Thomson. The French government split it into its military and consumer components.
In 1999 Thomson-CSF explored the possibility of merging with Marconi Electronic Systems however British Aerospace was successful in that aim, forming BAE Systems.
In 2000 the military component, known as Thomson-CSF went through a series of transactions, including with Marconi plc. The company also purchased the British defence electronics firm, Racal, becoming the second largest particpant in the UK defence industry after BAE. Racal was renamed Thomson-CSF Racal plc.
On December 6 2000 the group was renamed Thales. The consumer division became Thomson Multimedia, and was renamed back Thomson in 2002.
See also
- Thomson - Related history prior to 2000.
- Thales Air Defence Limited
External link
- Official site (http://www.thalesgroup.com)
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