EIB Backs Thales with €450M Loan for Aviation, Radar Advancements
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has extended a €450 million loan to French technology giant Thales. This significant funding, the first of its kind from the EIB to France's security and defence sector, will support Thales' research and development efforts in aviation and weather radar technology.
Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies, invests over €4 billion annually in R&D, focusing on Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies. The loan will bolster Thales' work in improving flight safety and efficiency, modernising social security systems, and developing new generations of software and radars for both civil and military purposes.
The EIB, the EU's long-term lending institution, has prioritised supporting European security and defence capabilities. This loan aligns with that strategy and is part of the EIB Group's plan to allocate 3.5% of its total financing in 2025 to security and defence-related projects. The EIB has 80 such projects under review, contributing to the EU's security and defence capabilities.
The €450 million loan from the EIB to Thales will facilitate advancements in aviation and weather radar technology, enhancing flight safety and efficiency. This investment underscores the EIB's commitment to bolstering European security and defence capabilities.
