The Innovation
                          through years

1893

Thomson Houston electric tram

When large cities started to develop electric-powered public transportation, the Thomson Houston electric tram was the gold standard. By 1907, the model was running on 1,000 km of France's 1,700 km of tram lines.
transportation
PROJECT
LAUNCH 1893
civil

Magnetron radar

The magnetron radar was originally developed for the ocean liner Normandie to detect icebergs, and the same technology was further developed for missile guidance roles. When Germany invaded France in 1940, project engineers fled to London. Subsequently, most radar systems built in the UK during World War II were based on this technology.
aerospace defence
PROJECT
LAUNCH 1936
civil

X-Ray Image Intensifier (IIR)

The first experimental X-Ray image intensifier was developed in 1951. It led to a considerable reduction of X-ray doses absorbed by patients and operators during radiology procedures. Thomson rapidly became the biggest producer in the world � and still is, although the original electron tube technology has now been replaced by solid-state devices.
medical
PROJECT
LAUNCH 1948
civil

Vapotron

Invented in 1950, the Vapotron process was a major step forward in cathode ray tube screen technology. Vapotron cooling of the tube's anode was twice as efficient as conventional water-cooling systems, and the technology was soon adopted by the biggest screen manufacturers in Japan and in the United States.
defence
PROJECT
LAUNCH 1950
civil

Palmier radar

The Palmier radar was a very long-range 3D radar developed in 1966 and produced for France, Sweden, India and NATO. The Arès radar, developed later by Hughes Aircraft and Thomson, was based on the same technology.
defence
PROJECT
LAUNCH 1966
civil

Crotale

Initially named Cactus, the Crotale is a mobile land short-range anti-air missile. Each firing unit comprised a fire-control radar associated with infrared guidance. It has been upgraded in the past 50 years and is still operated by armies from many countries
defence
PROJECT
LAUNCH 1966
civil

Rafale

Sensors, optronics, electronic warfare systems and tactical communications... Thales technologies for the Rafale account for one-third of the omnirole combat aircraft's total value.
defence
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2001
civil

Neuron

The Dassault nEUROn, an experimental flying wing stealth UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle), is a technological marvel of its kind with ranges, payloads and capabilities approaching those of manned fighter aircrafts. Thales provides nEUROn with a high-performance GPS, a hybrid military inertial system and communication systems specific to control-command.
defence
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2004
civil

Ciudad Segura in Mexico City

Thales provides the state-of-the-art technology for ies behind the Ciudad Segura system in Mexico City, the world's most ambitious and advanced urban security project. The Thales-developed system technologies are used to analyses images from 15,000 CCTV cameras to protect the capital's 20 million citizens. Crime rates in the city have fallen by more than 48.9% since 2009.
security
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2009
civil

SelTrac® CBTC

Thales's SelTrac CBTC computer-based train control technology leads the way is acknowledged as the state of the art in urban rail signalling. It makes urban transport faster and safer, both in older systems such as the London Underground and in the most modern metro networks around the world.
transportation
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2010
civil

Center for Information Treatment and Analysis

Thales’ CeNTAI gathers 20 of most reputable experts in big data management and analysis. They build algorithms focused on stream processing for detection and detailed analysis for investigation. After an initial project to detect online payment fraud, the CeNTAI is broadening its research scope to other aspects of cybersecurity.
security
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2010
civil

Electric aircraft of the future

Thales electrical systems for aircraft are replacing pneumatic and hydraulic technologies, helping to reduce weight and save fuel. Thales aims to achieve a 50% cut in CO2 emissions and 80% cut in NOx emissions by 2020 and is working towards the all-electric aircraft of the future.
aerospace
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2014
civil

ExoMars

ExoMars is a space exploration programme that aims to discover any traces of life on Mars. Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor for the ExoMars missions planned in 2016 and 2018. ExoMars will provide researchers with huge amounts of data for many years to come, and hopefully answer David Bowie’s question!
space
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2016
civil

Clean Sky Project

Thales develops lighter electrical systems to replace pneumatic and hydraulic ones on aircrafts, allowing for fuel savings. Thales aims to achieve a 50% cut in CO2 emissions and 80% cut in NOx emissions by 2020. It is still dreaming of an all-electrical aircraft in the near future.
aerospace
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2020
civil

Avionics 2020

With the Avionics 2020 cockpit, Thales showcases commercial aircraft technologies and concepts for the next 20 years. Cockpits of the future will allow for intuitive interaction with machines, designed to tailor the pilot’s needs.
aerospace
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2020
civil

Stratobus

The Stratobus hybrid airship is halfway between a drone and a satellite, offering high long endurance and complete autonomy from a fixed position more than 20 km above the surface of the planet. The airship will be able to carry out a wide range of missions including observation, security, telecommunications, broadcasting and navigation.
space
PROJECT
LAUNCH 2020
civil

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