The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €450 million loan to Thales to support its ongoing research and development efforts in aerospace and radar technologies. The funding will be used to advance projects aimed at improving the performance and safety of civil and military aviation systems, as well as modernizing radar equipment and developing next-generation software-based radar systems.
This is the first time Thales has received financing from the EIB. The loan is also among the largest corporate investments the Bank has made in the security and defence sector. The funding comes under the EIB’s TechEU initiative, a programme launched in June 2024 that aims to boost technological innovation in Europe, with €70 billion in available funds through 2027.
EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle emphasized the importance of innovation in the defence and security industry, stating that the investment would help ensure Thales remains competitive in critical technology domains such as aerospace, defence, and cybersecurity. He added that this collaboration highlights the EIB’s broader commitment to supporting projects aligned with Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Pascal Bouchiat, Chief Financial Officer at Thales, welcomed the funding, noting that it would reinforce the company’s existing research capacity. Thales currently employs around 3,000 researchers and 30,000 engineers, with an annual R&D budget of approximately €4.2 billion. Bouchiat noted that this loan will further strengthen Thales’ contribution to European technological and defence capabilities.
Since 2024, the EIB has expanded its role in supporting projects related to security and defence, identifying this area as one of its eight strategic priorities for the 2024–2027 period. The Bank has updated its lending framework to include a broader range of defence-related initiatives and has established a dedicated Security and Defence Office.
By 2025, the EIB aims to allocate roughly 3.5% of its total annual financing—about €3.5 billion—to this sector. Currently, the EIB is reviewing around 80 potential projects that align with EU security goals, developed in collaboration with national governments, European institutions, and international partners such as NATO.
