Difference between revisions of "Thales"
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It builds radars, sonars and electronic surveillance satellites, tactical communication systems and combat management systems, drones, helicopter avionics, armoured vehicles, mortar systems and missiles. | It builds radars, sonars and electronic surveillance satellites, tactical communication systems and combat management systems, drones, helicopter avionics, armoured vehicles, mortar systems and missiles. | ||
| − | Notably, Thales made the brand of missiles controversially deployed around the London Olympic Games site in 2012. | + | Notably, Thales made the brand of surface-to-air missiles (Starstreak) controversially deployed around the London Olympic Games site in 2012. <ref> Guardian </ref> |
| − | It also makes the | + | It also makes the infamous Watchkeeper drones, which were recently revealed to have cost the British taxpayer £1 billion pounds over the past 12 years. These aircraft are maintained by a UK-based joint venture called [[UAS Tactical Systems Ltd]] (U-TacS) with Israel's [[Elbit Systems]], (which designed the original Hermes 450 drone that the Watchkeeper was based on). <Ref> Gareth Corfield, [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/11/29/watchkeeper_drone_billion_pound_spend/ Watchkeeper drones cost taxpayers £1bn |
And were used on combat ops for just two days], 29 Nov 2017, accessed 26 March 2018 </ref> | And were used on combat ops for just two days], 29 Nov 2017, accessed 26 March 2018 </ref> | ||
==Revolving door appointments== | ==Revolving door appointments== | ||
| − | *[[James Arbuthnot]], former Conservative MP on the board of Thales since 201 | + | * [[James Arbuthnot]], former Conservative MP on the board of Thales since 201 |
| − | *General [[Timothy Granville-Chapman]] - now on the advisory board, was previously former vice-chief of the defence staff | + | * General [[Timothy Granville-Chapman]] - now on the advisory board, was previously former vice-chief of the defence staff |
| − | *Lord [[Charles Powell]], member of the advisory board circa 2015 | + | * Lord [[Charles Powell]], member of the advisory board circa 2015 |
| − | *[[Craig Stevenson]] - government affairs director | + | * [[Craig Stevenson]] - government affairs director |
| − | *[[Ann Taylor]] - former Labour defence minister joined Thales as a consultant adviser in 2010 | + | * [[Ann Taylor]] - former Labour defence minister joined Thales as a consultant adviser in 2010 |
| − | *[[Roger Wheeler]] - former chief of the general staff, appointed as a non-executive director in 2009 | + | * [[Roger Wheeler]] - former chief of the general staff, appointed as a non-executive director in 2009 |
==Recent MOD contracts== | ==Recent MOD contracts== | ||
| − | In March 2018 UK defence secretary, [[Gavin Williamson]], announced the MOD had signed a contract to spend almost £4million with [[Thales]] and [[General Dynamics Land Systems-UK]] to deliver a vehicle-mounted acoustic shot detection system, named the Acusonic sensor, which can sense and report the direction of incoming enemy fire. <ref> [https://www.forces.net/news/deal-worth-ps37-million-announced-armys-armoured-vehicles Deal Worth £3.7 Million Announced For Army's Armoured Vehicles], Forces Network, 15 March 2018, accessed 26 March 2018 </ref> | + | In March 2018 UK defence secretary, [[Gavin Williamson]], announced the MOD had signed a contract to spend almost £4million with [[Thales]] and [[General Dynamics Land Systems-UK]] to deliver a vehicle-mounted acoustic shot detection system, named the Acusonic sensor, which can sense and report the direction of incoming enemy fire.<ref> [https://www.forces.net/news/deal-worth-ps37-million-announced-armys-armoured-vehicles Deal Worth £3.7 Million Announced For Army's Armoured Vehicles], Forces Network, 15 March 2018, accessed 26 March 2018 </ref> |
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Arms Industry]][[Category:Arms Trade Revolving Door]] | [[Category:Arms Industry]][[Category:Arms Trade Revolving Door]] | ||
Revision as of 07:44, 27 March 2018
Thales is a French-headquartered multinational that was listed as the world's 10th biggest arms trader by SIPRI in 2016. It is part-owned by the French government.
It builds radars, sonars and electronic surveillance satellites, tactical communication systems and combat management systems, drones, helicopter avionics, armoured vehicles, mortar systems and missiles.
Notably, Thales made the brand of surface-to-air missiles (Starstreak) controversially deployed around the London Olympic Games site in 2012. [1]
It also makes the infamous Watchkeeper drones, which were recently revealed to have cost the British taxpayer £1 billion pounds over the past 12 years. These aircraft are maintained by a UK-based joint venture called UAS Tactical Systems Ltd (U-TacS) with Israel's Elbit Systems, (which designed the original Hermes 450 drone that the Watchkeeper was based on). [2]
Revolving door appointments
- James Arbuthnot, former Conservative MP on the board of Thales since 201
- General Timothy Granville-Chapman - now on the advisory board, was previously former vice-chief of the defence staff
- Lord Charles Powell, member of the advisory board circa 2015
- Craig Stevenson - government affairs director
- Ann Taylor - former Labour defence minister joined Thales as a consultant adviser in 2010
- Roger Wheeler - former chief of the general staff, appointed as a non-executive director in 2009
Recent MOD contracts
In March 2018 UK defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, announced the MOD had signed a contract to spend almost £4million with Thales and General Dynamics Land Systems-UK to deliver a vehicle-mounted acoustic shot detection system, named the Acusonic sensor, which can sense and report the direction of incoming enemy fire.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Guardian
- ↑ Gareth Corfield, [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/11/29/watchkeeper_drone_billion_pound_spend/ Watchkeeper drones cost taxpayers £1bn And were used on combat ops for just two days], 29 Nov 2017, accessed 26 March 2018
- ↑ Deal Worth £3.7 Million Announced For Army's Armoured Vehicles, Forces Network, 15 March 2018, accessed 26 March 2018
