On 5th October, Thales, the global technology and defence leader, celebrated 50 years of operations in Singapore at a gala event hosted by Chairman and CEO of Thales Group, Patrice Caine and senior management executives. With Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat as the Guest-of-Honour, Thales announced several new investments in the country.
Thales first established its presence in Singapore in 1973 to support aeronautics-related activities across Asia Pacific (APAC). Over the years, Thales has grown its capabilities and solutions to include national defence, space, transportation and most recently, digital identity & security solutions following the successful acquisition and integration of Gemalto in 2019.
Air Traffic Management Centre of Excellence
The Singapore Air Transport Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 outlines key priorities to transform Singapore into a future-ready global aviation hub, including building a safe and sustainable air hub and pursuing innovation in better air traffic and unmanned systems.
To this end, Thales has decided to establish an ATM Centre of Excellence in Singapore located at Thales’ premises at Ayer Rajah Crescent.
The CoE will work on industrial applications and design activities for its world-leading Air Traffic Management system - TopSky-ATC, while also engaging regional air navigation service providers in future collaboration and innovation in the airspace. The ambition is to develop partnerships with SMEs, academia and other ATM stakeholders in the region to build an open and collaborative ATM ecosystem.
Over the next three years, the CoE will ramp up activities to promote the development of the ATM sector in Asia, leveraging the high level of expertise already established in Singapore. This will include additional hiring, with the ambition of having 120 ATM experts located in Singapore in the coming years.
ScaleFlyt Remote ID – Proudly ‘Invented and Made-in-Singapore’
As drones become increasingly ubiquitous, ensuring the airspace remains safe and secure is essential. A strong regulatory framework is necessary, including the ability for operators and regulators to develop a reliable and safe drone ecosystem.
ScaleFlyt Remote ID acts as a remote identification and location system for drones. The device was designed by the Thales Drone team in Singapore, which combines the competencies and resources of Thales’ Avionics and Digital Identity & Security expertise, with the strong support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). The product was trialled and certified over the past two years, and is the first UAV product designed and developed in Singapore and ready for commercial use in the global market.
With the ScaleFlyt Remote ID tracker, drones can communicate vital information such as location, altitude, and identification to air traffic controllers and other airspace stakeholders. This real-time sharing of data ensures situational awareness and allows for effective coordination between drone operators and airspace owners, mitigating risks of airspace conflicts.
With this commercial first from Singapore, Thales intends to expand its drone activity in the future to include digital flight avionics and Urban Air Mobility solutions.
Opening of the Defence Hub
Thales also officially opens the Singapore Defence Hub on 6th October, with three pillars in Services, Engineering and Research. The Defence Hub will enhance long-term defence capabilities including maintenance, support, operational availability and indigenous development to meet the needs of the Singapore Armed Forces. A seasoned pool of experts situated in-country allows for a faster turnaround time and more hands-on approach to adapt to customer requirements and strengthen customer intimacy.
“Singapore is a strategic country for Thales, and a regional innovative hub for Asia. These announcements illustrate Singapore and Thales’ joint innovation and digital ambitions, building together a more sustainable aviation future and more resilient defense capabilities serving Singapore Armed Forces. By growing local capabilities in close proximity to our customers and partners, we are providing technologies for a safer and more secure society across Asia.” Patrice CAINE, Chairman and CEO, Thales Group.
Thales employs 2000 people in Singapore across four key sites. In the past five decades, Thales has also entrenched a strong Research, Technology and Innovation footprint with multiple research facilities including a 15-year old joint lab at NTU with CNRS International, the Thales Digital Factory, Engineering Competency Centre, and joint labs with customers and partners.
“Thales has grown alongside Singapore through 50 years. Today we have a strong engineering and manufacturing core in Avionics and Digital Identity and Security. Building upon this foundation, our new investments in the Air Traffic Management Centre of Excellence will make of Singapore a world leading ATM technology hub. We are proud to invent here cutting-edge drone management technology for a safe and efficient use of drones. Our Defence Hub will also expand local capabilities that build resilience for critical systems that defend Singapore.
We celebrate 50 years in Singapore with pride. As we look towards the next 50 years, our teams are working on next-generation technologies including Quantum, AI, 5G/6G, and cybersecurity that will continue to protect the world. We look forward to deepening our strong partnership with Singapore.” Emily TAN, Country Director, Thales in Singapore.
“Singapore values our longstanding partnership with Thales. Thales’ growing presence here has created exciting job opportunities for many Singaporeans across various functions such as manufacturing, research & development (R&D) and headquarters. Thales’ collaborations with our research institutes, Institutes of Higher Learning and government agencies to develop new technologies and solutions have also advanced Singapore’s competitiveness as a global node for innovation. My congratulations to Thales on its 50th anniversary in Singapore, and we look forward to deepening this partnership for many more years ahead,” said PNG Cheong Boon, Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
