Thales Australia

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Thales is a global leader in advanced technologies specialised in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cybersecurity & Digital identity. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive. The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries.

A trusted national security provider and defence technology expert, Thales has a long-standing presence in Australia with 4800+ employees working across 35 sites in every state and territory in Australia.

Key manufacturing sites in Australia include: Bendigo (Victoria), where Thales designs and manufactures the Bushmaster and Hawkei vehicles; Lithgow (New South Wales) which supports rifle manufacture for defence and law enforcement agencies; and Rydalmere (NSW) home of the Acoustic Centre of Excellence.

Thales excels in supplying the Australian Defence Force and its allies with an unrivaled depth of capability.

Communications, command and control systems
Mission services and support
Protection and mission/combat systems
Surveillance, detection and intelligence systems
Training and Simulation
Cyber security and digital identity

PRODUCTS

Thales Australia solutions include:

Bushmaster and Hawkei protected vehicles
Vehicle Integration, Upgrade and Through Life Support (TLS) services
Australian Combat Assault Rifle (ACAR) and F90 Assault Rifles
Guided Weapon and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise
Munitions
Maritime Domain Awareness

DISCRIMINATORS

Bushmaster is a 17-tonne, 4x4 multi-role protected vehicle incorporating a 4-tonne payload and combining high levels of ballistic and blast protection with excellent off-road mobility. For more than 20 years, Bushmaster has proven performance in protecting and saving the lives of soldiers during military operations, from Iraq to Afghanistan, Mali to Ukraine. Over 1200 Bushmasters are in service on four continents with nine defence forces. More than a life-protecting, highly capable protected vehicle, Bushmaster is a well-supported, long-term protected mobility platform solution for defence forces.
The ACAR (Australian Combat Assault Rifle) is a purpose-designed AR platform engineered to meet the high demands of defence and law enforcement. Offering exceptional quality and mission flexibility, the ACAR has seen significant advancements since its 2022 launch, including new calibres and manufacturing processes at Lithgow Arms.
The modular ACAR series is now available in 5.56, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 458 SOCOM, 300 BLK and 7.62, with plans to include 6.8, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 8.6 BLK. Dependable, lightweight, and incorporating high-quality materials and advanced metal finishes, the ACAR enhances durability and performance. Utilizing cold hammer forged and proprietary manufacturing techniques, the ACAR ensures exceptional reliability, performance, and accuracy.
Supported by Thales Australia, Lithgow Arms offers manufacturing, maintenance, testing, repair, and upgrades, backed by a dedicated R&D team.
With over a century of experience since 1912, Lithgow Arms guarantees high-quality craftsmanship and dependability with the new ACAR series.

KEY CUSTOMERS

Australian Defence Force
Defence Force vehicle customers including United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, Jamaica, Fiji, Indonesia and Ukraine
Governments
Law enforcement
Major corporations

Key Partnerships (Suppliers)

Thales works with many Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and partners from Australia and around the world

QUALITY ACCREDITATIONS AND AWARDS

Multiple Australian and International accreditations

Key Partnerships (Consulting)

Thales in Australia has formed strategic alliances with a range of Government and industry organisations to develop and deliver world-leading technologies
Thales also partners with a wide range of research institutions