THALES DMS FRANCE SAS

Their core work

Thales DMS France is the Defence Mission Systems division of Thales Group, one of Europe's largest defence and aerospace electronics companies. They specialize in command and control (C2) systems, border surveillance technologies, and electromagnetic engineering for defence and security applications. In H2020, they contributed expertise in multi-domain C2 environments integrating unmanned platforms, as well as advanced computational electromagnetics and antenna design. Their participation spans air traffic management safety systems (via SESAR) and security-domain surveillance technologies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 period (2016-2019), Thales DMS participated as a third party in two SESAR air traffic management projects, contributing defence-grade safety systems to civil aviation. From 2017 onward, they shifted to direct participation in security and electromagnetic engineering — first with CAMELOT's border surveillance C2 systems, then with COMPETE's computational electromagnetics training programme. This evolution suggests a move from supporting civil aviation infrastructure toward more active engagement in security technologies and fundamental electromagnetic R&D.

Thales DMS is deepening its direct R&D engagement in computational electromagnetics and multi-domain security systems, moving beyond third-party contributions toward active partnership roles.

How they like to work

Thales DMS operates exclusively as a participant or third party — never as coordinator — which is typical for a large defence company contributing specialized capabilities to consortia led by others. With 84 unique partners across 25 countries from just 4 projects, they work in very large consortia (characteristic of SESAR and security programmes). Their role is that of a major industrial contributor bringing proprietary defence technology into collaborative European research frameworks.

Despite only 4 projects, Thales DMS has connected with 84 unique partners across 25 countries, reflecting participation in large-scale European consortia typical of SESAR and security programmes. Their network spans most of the EU, with no narrow geographic concentration.

What sets them apart

As a division of Thales Group, they bring defence-grade systems engineering to EU research consortia — few organizations can offer operational C2 and surveillance system expertise at this scale. Their combination of electromagnetic engineering fundamentals with applied border security C2 makes them a rare bridge between deep physics-based R&D and real-world deployed defence systems. For consortium builders in security or dual-use technology projects, Thales DMS provides both industrial credibility and technical depth.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CAMELOT
  Their largest funded project (EUR 340,682), directly addressing multi-domain C2 for border surveillance with unmanned platforms — core to their defence mission.
• COMPETE
  Most recent and highest-funded project (EUR 549,604), an MSCA training network in computational electromagnetics — signals investment in next-generation electromagnetic talent.