Thales secures major EIB financing to advance next-generation radar and aeronautics technologies

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank has approved a €450 million loan to Thales to fund its aeronautics and radar research and development programme through 2027. This initiative aims to enhance civil and military flight safety, modernise radar equipment, and create next-generation radar technologies. The financing is the first corporate loan granted by the EIB to Thales and one of the largest ever issued to Europe’s security and defence sector. Falling under the TechEU programme, the loan underscores the EIB’s commitment to innovation and European sovereignty. Thales, which invests €4.2 billion annually in R&D with the support of 30,000 engineers and 3,000 researchers, sees the loan as a reinforcement of its global leadership in aerospace, defence and cybersecurity. The agreement aligns with the EIB Group’s revised strategy to expand security and defence financing, targeting €3.5 billion in allocations for 2025 and managing a portfolio of 80 projects under review.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 18-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €450 million loan to Thales to support its major research and development programme in aeronautics and radar systems. Running until the end of 2027, the programme is designed to improve the safety and efficiency of civil and military aviation, while also modernising radar equipment and enabling the development of a new generation of radar technologies and software for both civil and defence applications.

This operation represents Thales’ first corporate loan from the EIB and is among the largest loans the institution has ever provided to Europe’s security and defence sector. It also falls under the EIB’s TechEU programme, launched in June with €70 billion of financing capacity through 2027, which seeks to accelerate innovation and the development of breakthrough technologies across Europe.

EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle underlined the importance of the financing: “In the security and defence sector, innovation is crucial. The EIB is proud to support Thales, a global leader in defence, aerospace and cybersecurity technologies, as it continues to push forward technological frontiers. This first collaboration with Thales demonstrates our commitment to strengthening Europe’s security and defence capabilities, which are vital to European sovereignty.”

Pascal Bouchiat, Senior Executive Vice President, Finance and Information Systems at Thales, highlighted the significance for the company: “We welcome this financing from the European Investment Bank, which reinforces our capacity to lead in technological innovation and contribute to European sovereignty. With 3,000 researchers, 30,000 engineers and €4.2 billion invested annually in R&D, Thales is consistently recognised as one of the most innovative companies worldwide.”

The agreement also reflects the EIB Group’s growing role in supporting the security and defence industry. Since 2024, the Group has revised its lending policy to widen eligibility for defence-related projects, created a dedicated Security and Defence Office, and set a goal of allocating 3.5% of its financing in 2025 — roughly €3.5 billion — to the sector. It currently has around 80 projects under review in close coordination with European institutions, NATO, defence ministries and industry stakeholders.

EIB

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security. In France, the EIB Group signed more than 100 agreements in 2024, totalling €12.6 billion. Nearly 60% (69% in France) of annual EIB Group financing goes to support projects that help fight climate change and improve climate change adaptation.

Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defense, Aerospace, and Cybersecurity & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability, and inclusion. The Group invests over €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group achieved revenues of €20.6 billion.

Media contacts:

Andrea Morawski
a.morawski@eib.org
+352 4379 – 83427

Press Office
press@eib.org
+352 43791

SOURCE: European Investment Bank