Thales supplies digital identity, data security and defence technology in India and runs engineering centres in Noida and Bengaluru. Its Indian business expanded after it acquired the data security firm Imperva in 2023.
Ownership and structure
Thales operates in India through its own offices and engineering centres in Noida and Bengaluru and through joint ventures, including BEL Thales Systems, in which it holds 26 percent and Bharat Electronics holds 74 percent.
What India does for Thales
India serves Thales as a defence and civil market and as an engineering base whose Noida and Bengaluru centres develop software and hardware for the group.
Thales's India business
Thales has operated in India since 1953. Its Engineering Competence Centre was set up in 2019 and employed over 500 people by 2023.
In November 2023 it opened a new Bengaluru office as an extension of the Engineering Competence Centre. Its Indian workforce exceeded 2,000 in 2023, including joint venture staff.
The Imperva acquisition added about 100 employees in India working in software engineering and customer success.
Key moves in India
- 1953: Thales began operating in India.
- 2011: Thales Avionics and Samtel Display Systems incorporated the Delhi based joint venture Samtel Thales Avionics.
- 2014: Thales and Bharat Electronics formed BEL Thales Systems to build and maintain radars, with Thales holding 26 percent.
- 2019: Thales set up its Engineering Competence Centre in India.
- 2023: It opened a new Bengaluru office in November as an extension of the Engineering Competence Centre.
Where it operates
Thales runs its India business from Noida. It also has a presence in Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
At a glance
- Home country: France
- Global headquarters: Paris
- Sector: Cybersecurity & Digital Risk
- Business: Digital identity
- Role of India: R&D and engineering hub, Sales market
- India head office: Noida
- India offices: Noida, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai
- India headcount: 2,000+ (2023)
- In India since: 1953
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