FRENCH defence-technology firm Thales is planning to recruit more than 1,000 people in Singapore over the next three years, a move that will boost its headcount by 50 per cent, chief executive Patrice Caine said on Thursday (Oct 5).

This is part of Thales’ investment to expand its presence in Singapore, he said at a gala dinner to mark the company’s 50th anniversary in Singapore.

The company said the Thales Singapore Defence Hub, to officially open on Friday, will enhance its “long-term defence capabilities” in areas such as maintenance, support, operational availability and indigenous development, which will enable it to meet the needs of the Singapore Armed Forces.

The company has also established an air-traffic management centre of excellence at its premises in Ayer Rajah Crescent.

Over the next three years, the company hopes to ramp up activities at the centre to promote the development of the air-traffic management sector in Asia. It aims to have 120 specialists in this field working at the centre.

The company also launched the ScaleFlyt Remote ID, a “made-in-Singapore” commercial drone platform that can identify and track drones. With such a platform, drones can communicate vital information such as location, altitude and identification to air traffic controllers and other airspace stakeholders. Caine said the product will foster the development of a safe drone ecosystem.

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The device was designed by Thales’ drone team in Singapore, which combines its expertise in avionics and digital identity and security, with strong support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

EDB chairman Png Cheong Boon said Singapore values its longstanding partnership with Thales.

“Thales’ growing presence here has created exciting job opportunities for many Singaporeans across various functions such as manufacturing, research and development and headquarters,” he said.