Thales strengthens its presence in Japan with the opening of a defence services centre and an increase in recruitment

• Building on a presence of more than 55 years in Japan, Thales is opening its first services centre in the country, in order to reinforce its proximity with Japanese customers and partners, and to support the local ecosystem. This new centre will draw on Thales’ large installed base in Japan, where the Group currently employs more than 150 people across Defence, Aerospace and Cybersecurity.
• The Thales Japan Services Centre will aim to support the growth of the Group’s services activities, particularly in the defence domain, by improving operational performance and the long-term maintenance of equipment throughout its life cycle, while maximising operational availability. The centre is expected to host nearly 40 people by 2030.
• In parallel, the Group is growin in Japan, with the ambition of increasing its headcount by more than 16% by 2030. This growth is driven in particular by the recent contracts won in the space domain and by Japan’s needs in defence and cybersecurity.

Supporting the Japanese ecosystem through a dedicated services centre

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.