Scott Nicholas
Thales has invested $9.3 million in two U.K.-based trials and training centers as part of the company’s commitment to build future autonomous and unmanned technologies across the air and sea domains.
The company invested approximately $8 million to a facility in West Wales and $1.3 million for a waterfront location in Turnchapel Wharf, Plymouth as part of its commitment to develop autonomous systems, Thales said Tuesday.
Thales will also perform maritime integration, test and evaluation activities for the Maritime Mine Counter Measure Program of France and the U.K. at the Plymouth facility over the next five years.
The investment will look to sustain approximately 80 jobs related to autonomous system testing and development in West Wales and South West England.
Victor Chavez, CEO of Thales in the U.K., said that the investment in the two facilities will help the company meet regulations for civil and military autonomous platform applications as well as conduct safe test, evaluation and training activities.
