Present in Malaysia since 1981, Thales has played an instrumental part in supporting Malaysia’s defence ecosystem, as well as contributing high-technology solutions for the aerospace, security, digital identity and transportation sectors.
Thales today employs over 200 people in Malaysia, including personnel from its joint venture with the Sapura Group named Sapura Thales Electronics, and employees from the former Gemalto. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Thales also has employees working from sites based in Perak, Pahang, Selangor and Sabah.
Supporting the growth of local industrial capabilities
Aligning with Malaysia’s goal of strengthening their local industrial capabilities, Thales has been involved in technology transfer through its joint venture Sapura Thales Electronics Sdn Bhd (STE), set up in 1996. Through this industrial partnership, close to 200 Malaysian employees in STE are designing, developing, producing and exporting VHF handheld radios and tactical communications systems together with a complete range of accessories that are being used in several Armed Forces. Products developed by STE are also exported from Malaysia to countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America.
Boosting local presence through strategic partnerships
Since 2005, Thales has been operating a Naval Service & Support Centre (NSSC) based in Lumut, to support the numerous systems currently in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy with a new NSSC soon to be inaugurated in Kota Kinabalu. More recently Thales has set up and is implementing a Maintenance Centre of the very latest generation of Thermal Imagers, together with DEFTECH and Defence Services Sdn Bhd (DSSB) in Nilai. Thales has a strong presence through several Malaysian Key Industrial Partners in various fields of Defence, Aerospace, Transportation, leveraging their expertise in specific areas such as optronics and air traffic management (ATM).
Growing with Universities
Thales has developed several academic partnerships in the country, including a Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2013 with the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) to promote human capital development for the country’s rail industry. This first MoU is part of a key project to create a Rail Centre of Excellence (RCOE). MIGHT and Thales will provide specific content for the RCOE in the field of signalling and communications for main line and urban rail, including courseware, train-the-trainer programmes, project management support and facilities.
1981
Presence in Malaysia for over 40 years
200
Over 200 employees (including Sapura Thales Electronics)
4
4 main areas of activities (Defence & Security, Ground Transportation, Aerospace and Digital Identity & Security)
Aerospace in Malaysia
Thales has been supporting local customers including Malaysia’s Civil Aviation Department and Malaysia Airlines with its Aerospace solutions
