Switzerland

Thales has a long and strong presence in Switzerland, dating back to 1859. Since then, Thales has become a leading supplier of high-tech solutions, systems and services in the fields of Defence and Public Security, Training & Simulation, Space technology, Cybersecurity and Data Protection as well as in the production and personalization of Payment Cards and governmental Identity and Travel Documents.

Key figures

700

employees

sites

1859

foundation

Our expertise

Defence & Public Security

We provide reliable support to the Swiss Armed Forces in achieving and maintaining tactical superiority and strategic independence against many threats for decades. Thales has successfully established itself in Switzerland through the conception, development, and integration of sophisticated tactical systems in communication, command, control, and reconnaissance, earning an excellent reputation as a dependable industrial partner. We are a regular contractor to the Swiss Armed Forces since the mid-1940s.

As a general contractor, we deliver programs such as the Army’s command and control information system, the Air Force’s helicopter simulators, and NBC reconnaissance vehicles for the engineering and rescue corps, while also offering ongoing support during the operational phase. With the lightweight TRC 4100 Line-of-Sight radio and proven Power Management Systems for tactical vehicles—both developed in Switzerland—we have also achieved significant success abroad.

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Training & Simulation

We serve as the Group's center of excellence for tactical live operational training utilized by land forces, law enforcement, and police agencies. Simulation technology offers two key advantages: it reduces training costs and enables training in hazardous environments, such as combat situations, with complete safety. Thales develops and delivers training solutions for land, naval, and air forces, as well as civil and governmental helicopter operators worldwide. In Switzerland, we manage and operate the two Combat Training Centers of the Swiss Armed Forces, equipped with our state-of-the-art training and simulation solutions.

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In Switzerland, we produce and supply a variety of governmental identity and travel documents, including the Swiss Identity Card, the Swiss biometric Passport, identity cards for cantonal police forces, and digital tachograph cards. Additionally, we supply and operate ABC gates (automated border control) at Geneva and Basel airports. Our document readers are used for issuing biometric identity documents in Switzerland’s passport offices and in Swiss embassies worldwide.

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We are the market leader in high-quality card solutions since the introduction of the first cashless payment cards in the mid-1970s, including credit, debit and bank cards. Our customers encompass all major banks and financial institutions in Switzerland. We also supply and personalize loyalty cards for large retailers, and warranty and loyalty cards for world-renowned watch manufacturers. We provide and operate highly secure, customized solutions for online banking, mobile payment, and for the reliable verification and validation of cardholder identities.

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Whether it involves protecting data in the cloud, digital payments, blockchain, or the Internet of Things, Switzerland’s most respected companies, banks, and government agencies rely on us to safeguard their sensitive data, identities, and intellectual property wherever they are created, shared, or stored. Through our advanced encryption, access management, and strong authentication solutions, we help our customers transition securely to the cloud and ensure compliance with security policies.

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Space

Thales Alenia Space in Switzerland has over 20 years of experience in the development and construction of opto-electronic systems for space and has established itself as a leading supplier of small and powerful observation and communication systems for the European and international space industry. As a key partner of the European Space Agency ESA, we supply critical sub-assemblies for scientific instruments that help to increase our understanding of Earth, our solar system and the cosmos.

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