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1888

The first Optical Rangefinder

A patent is granted to Professor Archibald Barr & Dr. William Stroud for their optical rangefinders – a tool that can determine the distance to a visible object.

Together they form Barr & Stroud and become the UK leaders in optical rangefinders winning a contract to supply the British Army and later, the Royal Navy. 

113 years later, Barr & Stroud Ltd becomes Thales Optronics Ltd.

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1915

The first airborne surveillance tool

During the first World War, Vinten (now Thales in Bury St Edmunds) delivers the First Airborne Surveillance cameras to Royal Flying Corps.

The Model B Cine-Camera is designed and built specifically to be operated while hung over the side of an aircraft, capturing valuable footage of enemy positions from the air.

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1917

The Periscope that started it all

With the First World War at its height, Barr & Stroud (now Thales Optonics Ltd) supplies the first FY1 periscopes to the Royal Navy. 

They become the standard way of range finding for British periscopes, helping bring competitive advantage to British submarines.

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1943

Dam Busters success

The bouncing bomb used to destroy the Mohne Dam during World War Two was the first of its kind to bounce across the water and detonate exactly at the point it reached its target.

This success was, in part thanks to the sights made by Barr and Stroud (now Thales Optronics) and the fuse, manufactured by EMI (now Thales Land Systems).

1956

Racal delivers its first radio (the RA-17) to the Royal Navy

Utilising techniques still employed by modern digital receivers to overcome frequency drift, the RA17 design was used by all UK Military services and was to become the main receiver of the British radio surveillance organisation known as G.C.H.Q.

44 years later, Racal would become a Thales company.

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1969

The world’s first Tank Laser Sight

With a 10km range, the Chieftain Tank’s Laser Sight made by Thales becomes the most advanced tank in the world.

The sight allowed engagements at much longer ranges and also could be linked to the fire control system, allowing more rapid engagements and changes of target.

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1976

A new generation of military radio is born

Clansman Radio enters service as the lightest, most flexible and reliable radio of its generation, transforming the British Army’s radio capabilities.

The Clansman radio was to remain in service until 2010 (34 years).

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1978

A world-first in Periscope Technology

Thales supplies the world’s first Thermal Imaging Periscope to the Royal Navy, followed a year later by the world’s first Laser rangefinder Periscope.

The development of this technology solved two critical problems. Firstly, the IR sensor no longer needed a window which could withstand diving pressures and secondly it needed no maintenance during a boat mission.

A single power telescope provided a field of view of 6⁰ x 3⁰.

1982

Ground breaking  Jaguar-V radio invented

The Racal group, now Thales Land Systems, starts selling the world’s first frequency-hopping military very high frequency (VHF) radio, Jaguar-V. It had been developed to resist jamming and used a scrambler, ensuring sensitive information could be relayed safely. The Jaguar-V had up to 50 radio nets and a short range of up to 20km with a long antenna. 

By the end of its service in the late 90s, 40 nations, including NATO, were using the Jaguar-V radio.1982
A new standard in visual simulation

Rediffusion Simulation introduces a new standard in visual simulation realism called Wide-Angle Infinity Display Equipment (WIDE). Unlike previous visualisation methods, it uses a spherical mirror to allow distant-focus collimated viewing in a continuous, seamless, horizontal display for pilots seated side-by-side. 
In the years following this breakthrough, Thales has developed the technology to accommodate the ever-increasing field-of-view requirements. Today, collimated cockpit displays are standard across regulatory level C and D full-flight simulators.

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1982

Telephones become mobile

Operating under the Racal brand, Thales wins a licence for the TACS mobile communications system. This was essentially the first private sector UK Cellular Licences, laying the foundation for the formation of Vodafone.

The first mobile call was made in 1985 from St. Katherine’s Dock to Newbury. TACS cellular phones were used across the globe, including in Europe, Japan and Hong Kong.

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1985

Phone calls from 40,000 ft altitude

Thales Avionics (previously Racal Research and Racal Avionics) develops a single-channel system for use on small aircraft. 
The success of this leads to the MCS3000, the first system for providing telephone communications to passengers on commercial aircraft while in flight.

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1987

Thales launches the Cougar Secure Radio

Operating under the Racal brand Thales launches the Cougar secure radio. Cougar radios are selected by every police force in Great Britain, HM Customs and other branches of the Home Office.

The radios were equipped with strong voice encryption which made them perfect for covert operations, surveillance and Special Forces Operations.

1990

A breakthrough in Sonar Technology

The Royal Navy equips eight Type 23 frigates with the Thales Sonar 2087 Towed Array. It has Low-Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS), including active and passive sonars. This allows the Type 23 to hunt submarines at a considerable distance and locate them beyond the range at which they can launch an attack.  In 2010, this capability was described as ‘world beating’ by the then-in-charge commanding officer.

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1993

Vanguard submarines equipped with Thales Sonar

The Vanguard is commissioned, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine as part of the Trident Nuclear programme. Vanguard is equipped with the Thales Sonar 2054, comprising of sonar array, active and passive hull mounted S2043 and S2082 passive intercept and ranging sonar.

The mission of the Trident Nuclear programme is to deter the most extreme threats to UK national security and way of life, which cannot be done by other means.

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1994

Thales signalling systems used on Docklands Light Railway

The Thales SelTrac signalling system launches on all DLR trains, creating the first and only autonomous railway line run on the London Underground network. 

The upgrades have resulted in a 50% increase in capacity on the DLR. The trains carry almost 70 million passengers annually and deliver consistently high levels of reliability and passenger satisfaction.

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1994

The national lottery changes lives

Thales (under the Racal brand), is a lead shareholder in the Camelot Consortium. The National Lottery launches in November 1994 and uses Racal network technology for point of sale terminals covering 98% of the population in the UK.

In the first four and a half months, ticket sales exceed £1 billion, raising £300 million for charities across the UK.

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1996

Equipping police forces with better recognition

Thales launches the first fully operational automatic licence plate recognition system. The technology (created by former Thales brand, Racal) uses optical character recognition on images to read vehicle registration plates. 

After extensive trials by British law enforcement agencies it is selected by the Metropolitan Police and several other police forces for surveillance and monitoring operations.

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1997

Thales Starstreak enters service with UK MOD

The fastest short-range surface-to-air missile in the world enters service with the UK MOD. Once fired, Starstreak accelerates to more than Mach 4, it then launches three laser beam-riding submunitions, increasing the likelihood of a successful hit on the target.

Fifteen years later, the Ministry of Defence announces that a Starstreak detachment would play a key role in the London 2012 Olympics protection system.

1999

Radio and transmission network for London Underground

Thales in the UK signs a contract to supply and maintain the London Underground radio and transmission network. Thales Connect is a robust, unified radio communication system that works above and below ground.

Thales in the UK also operates a one-stop shop for Connect which responds quickly to repairs and maintenance needs.

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2000

Airborne Sensor Systems for MoD’s Merlin helicopters

The Merlin helicopter is equipped with airborne sensor systems developed by Thales -  the world’s leading anti-submarine warfare platform. 

Using the Folding Light Acoustic System (FLASH) the highly-trained crews onboard Merlin helicopters can operate over deep and shallow water, making them highly flexible and mobile platforms.

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2003

Real-time train information arrives

Thales in the UK leads the project to overhaul one of the oldest and largest subway systems in the world – the London Underground. 

Thales’s world-leading SelTrac Transmission Based Train Control system for driverless (with attendant) operation replaces the old signalling system, without impacting the existing service.

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2003

Train journey planning becomes simpler

Thales in the UK develops and operates Darwin, an agile train journey planner that provides real-time information to passengers.

In keeping with its name, Darwin is continuously evolving and is now the sole platform for critical information to all of the UK’s 2,000 Customer Information System-enabled stations as well as via the National Rail Enquiries website.

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2004  

Strategic Air Tanker agreement

Thales joins the Air Tanker Consortium to provide the RAF with a reliable, safe and efficient air transport and air-to-air refuelling service for the next 27 years. 

In addition to its air-to-air refuelling role, the aircraft will be capable of carrying up to 291 passengers. It will also have an aeromedical evacuation capability, including critical care patients or up to 40 stretchers.

2007

Lydian programme starts flying

The Lydian programme starts flying in June 2007, delivering an ISTAR service in support of UK Military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the project’s inception, Lydian has represented a step change in capability for the MOD and has completed more than 100,000 operational flying hours. 

Constantly improving, an innovative GPS-based Take-Off and Landing was added in 2010. This provides the user with automated take-off and landing capability.

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2008

Building a clearer picture of our planet

Thales EarthCARE is the first optical instrument provided to a European Space Agency (ESA) programme from the UK for more than 15 years. 

It is designed to measure cloud-aerosol-radiation interactions so they may be included in climate and numerical weather forecasting models.

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2008

Thales transforms the Manchester Metrolink

MPT, a joint venture of VolkerRail and Laing O’Rourke in consortium with Thales, secures the design, construction and maintenance contract to deliver the network expansion of Manchester Metrolink, comprising lines to media City, South Manchester, East Manchester and Oldham Rochdale as well as a new depot facility at Trafford Bar.

Thales in the UK supplies the over­head line, power, communications, passenger information and CCTV, plus the associated systems integration and maintenance services.

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2009

RealitySeven flight simulator launched

Thales launches the first full-flight simulator named Reality Seven. It has a modular design with a docking station that incorporates a proven electric motion system independent of the aircraft type. 

Different aircraft modules can effectively be ‘swapped’ out, as a customer’s fleet or training business needs change, without the entire simulator needing to be replaced and without the need for further investment.

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2010

Type 45 enters service with Thales sensors

Thales equips T45 destroyers with sensors and systems, providing the Royal Navy with the most advanced warship ever produced, with the mission to shield the Fleet from air attack using a Sea Viper missile. Additionally, they can hunt submarines and patrol against pirates and drug smugglers.

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2012

Chinook MK4 enters service with Thales flight displays

The Thales TopDesk system provides Chinook crews with vital mission data through four new primary flight displays.

The fleet is digitalised, and the flight deck is fitted with four new six-by-eight-inch primary displays. This provides the entire crew with a clear vision of the high-intensity missions.

2014

National military air traffic contract awarded to Thales

AQUILA, a joint venture between Thales and National Air Traffic Services (NATS) transforms terminal air traffic management at military airfields.

The mission goal is to ensure safe, efficient and sustainable Air Traffic Management services for the UK armed forces over a 22-year period.

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2014

Watchkeeper takes flight into civil airspace

Thales’s Watchkeeper Unmanned Air vehicle (UAV) is the first operationally proven Unmanned Aircraft System developed and built in the UK, providing real-time, enhanced situational awareness for troops on the ground while helping to reduce risk and loss of life.

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2016

Exomars 2020 mission

Thales Alenia Space-UK is awarded the highly prized contract to deliver a space propulsion subsystem, by the European Space Agency (ESA). 

The propulsion system is used on the ExoMars venture – a breakthrough mission that will explore the possibility of whether life has ever existed on Mars. It will also provide the communication link between Earth and the spacecraft and will support navigation with star trackers and Sun sensors.

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2017

Thales at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Carriers

As a founding member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, alongside Babcock, BAE Systems, and the Ministry of Defence, Thales platform design, power and propulsion, and the communications systems.

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2022

London Underground 4LM Project completed

The Four Lines Modernisation (4LM) project led by Thales, aims to upgrade the signalling systems of four of London Underground’s most important railway lines: Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan. Between them, they account for 40% of the Underground’s traffic.

The upgrade will increase peak passenger capacity by an average of 33% and 11,00 jobs will be created or sustained.