Thales Optronics

Thales Optronics is the optronics business and brand of Thales Group, the French defense, aerospace, transportation and security company. It develops and manufactures electro-optical and infrared equipment for military platforms and surveillance missions. Its portfolio covers infrared cameras, passive search-and-track sensors, laser range-finders, laser warning and countermeasure systems, reconnaissance equipment, armored-vehicle sights, aircraft reconnaissance pods, target-locating systems and submarine optronic masts. The business is organized around operations in France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The principal entities identified with the brand are Thales Optronique SA in France, Thales Optronics Limited in the United Kingdom and Thales Optronics B.V. in the Netherlands. Paris is the headquarters location associated with the division, while the United Kingdom operation has historically been centered in Glasgow, Scotland. The Glasgow site has served as a major design and manufacturing location for infrared cameras, laser range-finders and related systems used on aircraft, armored vehicles, submarines and reconnaissance platforms. Thales Optronics' British lineage predates the Thales name. Pilkington Optronics was established in 1988 by Pilkington plc to consolidate its optronics activities, including Pilkington PE in North Wales and Barr and Stroud in Glasgow. Thomson-CSF acquired an initial 50 percent stake in Pilkington Optronics in 1991, expanded its ownership after acquiring Thorn EMI Electro Optics in 1995, and ultimately acquired the remaining shares by 2000. Thomson-CSF adopted the Thales name in 2000, and Pilkington Optronics became Thales Optronics Limited. The division has participated in major European defense programs. Its technologies include the PIRATE passive infrared search-and-track system for the Eurofighter Typhoon, infrared search-and-track equipment associated with the Rafale fighter, electro-optical reconnaissance pods, armored fighting vehicle fire-control and navigation systems, and non-hull-penetrating optronic masts intended to replace traditional submarine periscopes on some modern submarine classes. These products position the business as a systems supplier rather than a consumer optics manufacturer: its equipment is integrated into aircraft, land vehicles, naval platforms and command or exploitation systems. The United Kingdom business underwent operational changes during the 2000s. Thales Optronics announced the closure of its Taunton, Somerset manufacturing facility in 2006, affecting approximately 180 jobs. In 2007, Thales sold its beryllium mirrors and structures activity, which served astronomy and related specialist applications, to GSI Group. The UK operation later received a Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2011. The division's publicly documented business figures for 2011 show £229 million in revenue and £24.4 million in profit for Thales Optronics Limited, compared with £212 million and £14 million respectively in 2010; these figures relate to the UK company and are historical rather than current group-wide results. Thales Optronics operates in a defense procurement environment characterized by long development cycles, platform integration requirements, export controls and close relationships with national armed forces and prime contractors. Its competitive proposition is based on mission-grade sensing, target acquisition, reconnaissance, fire control, self-protection and submarine surveillance technologies. The brand remains associated with Thales Group's broader defense-electronics portfolio, while many products are delivered as components or integrated subsystems within larger aircraft, vehicle, naval and intelligence programs.

Thales Optronics is the optronics division of Thales Group. Its organizational history combines French defense-electronics activities with the British optronics businesses that were assembled under Pilkington Optronics before becoming part of Thomson-CSF and then Thales. In the United Kingdom, Pilkington plc formed Pilkington Optronics in 1988 to bring together its optronics interests. These included Pilkington PE in North Wales, whose origins went back to 1966, and Barr and Stroud in Glasgow. The company expanded in 1995 by acquiring Thorn EMI Electro Optics, which was renamed Pilkington Thorn Optronics. Thomson-CSF acquired 50 percent of Pilkington Optronics in 1991, increased its holding in subsequent years and acquired the remaining interest by 2000. Thomson-CSF changed its name to Thales in 2000, after which Pilkington Optronics Limited became Thales Optronics Limited. Thomson-CSF also acquired W Vinten, a British reconnaissance-equipment manufacturer, bringing additional capabilities including the Joint Reconnaissance Pod. These activities helped establish the United Kingdom business as a supplier of airborne reconnaissance equipment, infrared cameras, laser range-finders and sights for military vehicles and naval platforms. The British operation was subsequently consolidated. In November 2006, Thales Optronics Limited announced the closure of its Taunton manufacturing facility, affecting around 180 employees. In June 2007, the beryllium mirrors and structures activity was sold to GSI Group. That specialist business served astronomy and related applications and was distinct from the division's core defense optronics work. In 2011, Thales Optronics Limited received a Queen's Award for Enterprise. The division's activities have been distributed across France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The principal entities are Thales Optronique SA, Thales Optronics Limited and Thales Optronics B.V. Its products have included infrared search-and-track systems for combat aircraft, laser warning and countermeasure equipment, reconnaissance pods, armored-vehicle fire-control systems and submarine sensor systems. A notable area is non-hull-penetrating optronic mast technology, which can replace conventional periscopes on some submarine classes and transmit imagery and sensor information electronically. Publicly documented historical figures for Thales Optronics Limited show revenue of £229 million and profit of £24.4 million in 2011, compared with £212 million and £14 million in 2010. These figures describe the British legal entity for those periods and should not be treated as current financial information for the wider Thales Optronics division. The division's business model is based on long-term defense programs, platform integration, government procurement and export-regulated technology rather than direct consumer sales.

1. 2011Queen's Award for Enterprise

   Thales Optronics Limited received a Queen's Award for Enterprise.

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2. 2007Beryllium mirrors business divested

   The beryllium mirrors and structures activity was sold to GSI Group.

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3. 2006Taunton facility closure announced

   The company announced the closure of its Taunton manufacturing facility, affecting approximately 180 jobs.

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4. 2000Pilkington Optronics becomes Thales Optronics

   Thomson-CSF completed ownership of Pilkington Optronics, adopted the Thales name and renamed the British subsidiary Thales Optronics Limited.

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5. 1995Thorn EMI Electro Optics acquired

   Pilkington Optronics acquired Thorn EMI Electro Optics and renamed it Pilkington Thorn Optronics.

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6. 1991Thomson-CSF acquires a stake

   Thomson-CSF acquired an initial 50 percent interest in Pilkington Optronics.

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7. 1988Pilkington Optronics formed

   Pilkington plc created Pilkington Optronics to consolidate its optronics businesses, including Pilkington PE and Barr and Stroud.

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8. 1966Pilkington PE established

   Pilkington PE, later incorporated into the British optronics lineage, was formed in North Wales.

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A defense-electronics and electro-optics specialist supplying integrated sensing, targeting, reconnaissance, self-protection and submarine-periscope replacement systems for military platforms.

• PIRATEAirborne passive infrared search and track

  PIRATE, or Passive Infra Red Airborne Tracking Equipment, is an infrared search-and-track system associated with the Eurofighter Typhoon. It provides passive detection and tracking of airborne targets without relying on active radar emissions, supporting combat-aircraft situational awareness and target engagement functions.

• Rafale FSO/OSF infrared search-and-track systemsCombat-aircraft electro-optical sensor

  The Rafale FSO/OSF family represents electro-optical and infrared search-and-track capabilities associated with the Rafale fighter. These systems support passive observation, detection and tracking missions and complement other aircraft sensors in an integrated combat-aircraft architecture.

• Submarine optronic mastsSubmarine sensor system

  Thales Optronics develops submarine sensor systems including non-hull-penetrating optronic masts. These systems can replace conventional optical periscopes on some submarine classes by using electro-optical sensors mounted on a mast and transmitting imagery and sensor data to the platform's internal systems.

• Joint Reconnaissance PodAirborne reconnaissance system

  The Joint Reconnaissance Pod is an airborne reconnaissance system inherited through the British reconnaissance-equipment lineage associated with W Vinten. It is designed to collect imagery and other reconnaissance information from aircraft for subsequent analysis and mission exploitation.

• Infrared cameras and laser range-findersElectro-optical equipment

  The division's infrared cameras and laser range-finders are used in military sensing, targeting and reconnaissance applications. They support functions such as thermal observation, target distance measurement, fire control and surveillance on aircraft, armored vehicles and other defense platforms.

• Laser warning and countermeasure systemsPlatform self-protection

  Thales Optronics supplies laser warning receivers and laser countermeasure technologies for platform self-protection. These systems are intended to detect laser illumination or ranging activity and support defensive responses within broader military survivability architectures.

• Armored vehicle sighting and fire-control systemsLand-system electro-optics

  These systems combine electro-optical sights, thermal imaging, range measurement and related fire-control functions for armored fighting vehicles. They are designed to improve observation, target acquisition, navigation and engagement performance in day, night and degraded-visibility conditions.

• 2007Sale of the beryllium mirrors and structures businessM&A

  Thales Optronics held a specialist beryllium mirrors and structures activity serving astronomy and related applications.

  What changed. The activity was sold to GSI Group for an undisclosed amount.

  Aftermath. The divestment narrowed the business's scope toward its core defense and aerospace optronics activities.

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• 2006Closure of the Taunton manufacturing facilityStrategy

  Thales Optronics Limited reviewed its United Kingdom manufacturing footprint and announced that the Taunton, Somerset facility would close.

  What changed. The company announced the site's closure, with approximately 180 jobs affected.

  Aftermath. The closure reduced the company's manufacturing presence in Taunton while its Glasgow operation remained a major British design and production center.

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• 2011Thales Optronics Limited receives Queen's Award for Enterprise

  The United Kingdom company received a Queen's Award for Enterprise.

  Other
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• 2007Thales sells beryllium mirrors and structures activity

  Thales sold its specialist beryllium mirrors and structures business, used in astronomy and related applications, to GSI Group for an undisclosed amount.

  M&A
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• 2006Thales Optronics announces closure of Taunton manufacturing facility

  The British operation announced the closure of its Taunton, Somerset manufacturing site, with approximately 180 jobs affected.

  Other
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1. Thales Optronics