Thales Optronics

Thales Optronics is a major unit of Thales Group and has three main subsidiaries:
*Thales Optronics Ltd. (UK)
*Thales Optronique SA (France)
*Thales Optronics B.V.

Thales Optronics Ltd.

Thales' optronics businesses in the UK are as a result of the acquisition of Pilkington Optronics. Pilkington Optronics was formed by Pilkington plc in 1988 to take control of the company's varied optronics businesses (formerly Pilkington Perkin Elmer/Pilkington PE and Barr and Stroud, Glasgow). Pilkington PE would later become Thales Optics Ltd., and - following divestment from Thales in December 2005 - now trades as Qioptiq Ltd (www.qioptiq.co.uk).

In 1988 Thomson-CSF acquired W Vinten Ltd, a British reconnaissance equipment manufacturer (now Thales Optronics (Bury St Edmunds) Ltd.)

In 1991 Thomson-CSF acquired a 50% share of Pilkington Optronics (PO). In 1995 PO acquired Thorn EMI Electro Optics which was renamed Pilkington Thorn Optronics (now Thales Optronics (Staines) Ltd).

*In 1998 Thomson-CSF purchased another 40% of PO from Pilkington and the remainder in 2000 to make it a wholly owned subsidiary. In 2000 Thomson-CSF was renamed Thales and Pilkington Optronics Ltd. became Thales Optronics Ltd.

Products

*Search and track
**PIRATE (Passive Infra Red Airborne Tracking Equipment) for Eurofighter Typhoon
**Rafale FSO/OSF IRST systems
*IRST systems
*Self protection systems
**Laser Warning Receivers
**Laser countermeasures
*Laser range finders
*Sighting systems
*Reconnaissance systems
*Submarine Periscope Systems including the latest non-hull penetrating Optronics Masts systems
*Electro-optic aircraft reconnaissance pods and image exploitation stations
*AFV Fire Control and Navigation systems