Thales is involved in the French ASMPA mid-life upgrade and the M51 missile adaptation for French submarines.
Nuclear Weapons
Thales states it “does not design, produce or sell nuclear weapons”.[i] The company adds it is one of the “140+ direct suppliers on the French nuclear missile program, making electronic systems in line with our main areas of expertise, that are not specific to the nuclear nature of the missile”.[ii] According to the French Ministry of Defence, however, Thales SIX is one of MBDA’s main six subcontractors in the French ASMPA mid-life upgrade.[iii] The ASMPA is a medium-range air-to-ground nuclear armed cruise missile, and part of the French nuclear arsenal.[iv]
The French Ministry of Defence also lists Naval Group, of which Thales has 35% ownership, as the main contractor for the M51 missile adaptation for the French nuclear submarines.[v] Naval Group is also currently developing a third-generation nuclear armed submarine (SNLE 3G) for France.[vi] The programme is aimed at replacing the four Le Triomphant nuclear armed submarines, with delivery starting in 2035.[vii] Thales is contracted by the French Ministry of Defence to develop a new sonar suite for these third-generation nuclear armed submarines.[viii]
Furthermore, Thales Glasgow was awarded an £169 million contract in July 2023 to provide ‘optronic masts’ for all four future UK nuclear deterrent submarines (HMS Dreadnought, Valiant, Warspite, and George VI).[ix] These periscopes support communications on top of assisting with targeting, navigation and situational awareness.[x]
[i] Supporting human rights and fundamental freedoms (no date) | Thales. Available at: Supporting human rights and fundamental freedoms | Thales Group (Accessed: 21 October 2025).
[ii] Thales Group, written response to PAX, dated 6 October 2023. See also ‘Building a future we can all trust: Safer, greener and more inclusive’, Thales’ inaugural ESG Investor Day, Thales (2021), p. 61. Available at: Présentation PowerPoint (thalesgroup.com).
[iii] ‘Projet Annuel de Performances. Annexe au projet de loi de finances pour 2026, Budget général, Mission ministérielle, Défense, RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (2025), pp. 318-319. Available at : https://www.budget.gouv.fr/documentation/file-download/30673.
[iv] Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns and Mackenzie Knight-Boyle, ‘French Nuclear Weapons, 2025’, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 81:4, 313-326, pp. 320-322. DOI: 10.1080/00963402.2025.2524251.
[v] ‘Projet Annuel de Performances. Annexe au projet de loi de finances pour 2026, Budget général, Mission ministérielle, Défense, RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (2025), p. 317. Available at : https://www.budget.gouv.fr/documentation/file-download/30673.
[vi] Ibid, pp. 326-327. Submarines (no date) | Naval Group. Available at: Submarines | Naval Group (naval-group.com) (Accessed: 21 October 2025).
[vii] Ibid; ‘Naval Group Begins Construction of France’s Third-Gen Nuclear Submarine’. The Defense Post, 25 March 2024. Available at: Naval Group Begins Construction of France’s Third-Gen Nuclear Submarine.
[viii] Thales to provide new-generation sonar suite for France’s nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs). Thales, 11 July 2023. Available at: Thales to provide new-generation sonar suite for France’s nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs) | Thales Group.
[ix] Scope for success as historic Glasgow firm wins £169m contract for Dreadnought ‘periscopes’. Royal Navy News, 13 July 2023. Available at: Scope for success as historic Glasgow firm wins £169m contract for Dreadnought ‘periscopes’.
[x] Ibid.
Last updated: 2026-06-08 16:55:38