Present in Japan for over fifty years, Thales promotes technological innovation and is an active and recognised partner for the development of Japanese infrastructure. The Group serves Japanese needs in the defence, transportation, aerospace, space and security markets.
A strong portfolio of solutions and technologies enables Thales to meet customer and partner needs efficiently by supporting them in common projects. Key projects have enabled Thales in Japan to expand the business locally and to build a dynamic and skilled workforce.
Thales’ strategy is to boost its local presence by partnering with local players. Addressing worldwide needs and partnering with key industrial Japanese players is part of Thales’ operating strategy.
- In Japan, Thales works with over 500 suppliers ranging from large enterprises to very small-sized companies with highly skilled artisans. Together with its partners, Thales addresses the needs for scientific, spatial and various industrial applications.
- To prepare for the future, relationships with universities and research centres are critical. In 2013, the Japanese research institute RIKEN (RIKEN Spring-8 Centre) awarded Thales with a contract for the development and installation of two intense 500 terawatt laser beam lines. The system has significantly expanded the capabilities of the current SACLA (Spring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron Laser) used by researchers in Japan and the international community for advanced research in science. This type of laser paves the way for a new generation of extremely powerful particle accelerators, which will be smaller and less costly, for fundamental research in materials physics and for medical applications.
- On the export market, Thales is working in consortium with Japanese players to address international markets. In 2015, a consortium consisting of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi, The Kinki Sharyo Co. and Thales received a Letter of Conditional Acceptance for Doha Metro Construction. This is one of the world's largest projects for a single metro system. Construction is scheduled for completion by October 2019.
