Thales in France
About the Thales Group
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 81,000 employees on five continents.
The Group is investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – Big Data, artificial intelligence, connectivity, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust. Trust is essential for societies to flourish, with humans playing a central role in every critical decision.
Thales's high-tech solutions, services and products help companies, organisations and governments to achieve their goals and ambitions. And in each of our five vertical markets — digital identity and security, defence, aerospace, space, and transport — our customers play a vital role in society.
A responsible company
For more than twenty years, Thales has implemented a proactive policy of corporate responsibility based on the highest international standards. This policy is fully aligned with the company’s purpose, adopted in 2020, of “building a future we can all trust”.
Our Markets
Our locations in France
Thales is a major player in the high-tech industry in France. The Group has 46 sites across the country, in seven major employment regions: Ile-de-France, Centre, Pays de la Loire, Brittany, Southwest France, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, and Rhône-Alpes.
History of the Thales Group
Thales, formerly Thomson-CSF, was founded in 1968 through the merger of the professional electronics businesses of Thomson-Brandt and CSF (Compagnie Générale de Télégraphie Sans Fil). The two companies already had a long history. The origins of Thomson-Brandt date back to 1893, when Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston was formed to exploit the patents of the American company Thomson-Houston Electric Corp. in the emerging market for power generation and transmission. CSF was established in 1918 and was one of the pioneers of radio broadcasting.
