Thales strengthens its presence in Japan with the opening of a Defence Services Centre and an increase in recruitment.
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Press Release, Paris, 14 October 2026: The opening of the Thales Japan Services Centre will help support the resilience and sovereignty of Japanese industry, while strengthening the Group’s proximity with its local partners. The centre will consolidate long-term defence services capabilities, such as maintenance, support, operational availability and local development, in order to meet the needs of end users.
On site, Thales engineering and services experts will support the Group’s partners on a day-to-day basis, contributing to the development of local expertise. This presence will make it possible to adapt quickly to customers’ requirements, ensure service continuity in all circumstances, and limit the risk of disruption during critical periods. The Thales Japan Services Centre plans to host nearly 40 people by 2030.
Continuing recruitment and collaboration with Japanese SMEs and startups: Driven by its recent commercial successes in Japan, Thales has increased its headcount by more than 11% since 2024, a momentum the Group intends to pursue by growing its workforce by more than 16% over the next three years. Already a partner to many major Japanese players, Thales intends to expand its cooperation with SMEs and startups, both on local projects and by integrating them into its global supply chain. This strengthening in Japan illustrates Thales’ multi-domestic strategy, combined with the platform-agnostic nature of its technologies, which allows them to be integrated pragmatically into existing systems and infrastructures, particularly in defence and cybersecurity.
“The momentum of our recruitment in Japan and the opening of the Thales Japan Services Centre mark a new step in our commitment to our Japanese partners and customers. This reinforced proximity will enable us to be more available and more responsive, in support of the entire Japanese value chain, from major corporations to SMEs.” Pascale Sourisse, Senior Executive Vice-President, International Development, Thales.
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