Thales to showcase Naval data dominance, hybrid fleets and firepower at Euronaval
New Delhi. Naval data dominance, hybrid fleet capabilities and enhanced firepower and availability will be the key themes that defence technology company Thales will showcase at Euronaval 2026, which takes place from November 3 to 6 at Paris Nord Villepinte.
At a pre-event media briefing, Philippe Duhamel, Executive Vice President, Defence Mission Systems, and Eric Chaperon, Naval Defence Advisor, outlined how Thales plans to help navies achieve operational superiority through advanced technologies, integrated systems and multi-domain operations. The company will showcase a range of solutions addressing the evolving requirements of naval forces.
Chaperon said the exhibition would centre on three themes: naval data dominance, powering hybrid fleets, and increased firepower and availability. The objective is to improve information superiority, connectivity, combat readiness and the integration of capabilities across operational domains.
Data, AI and decision-making
Thales will highlight its next-generation ExaForce command-and-control (C2) system, designed to support multi-domain operations by integrating information and enabling faster decision-making. The company is also developing secure data hubs, sovereign cloud infrastructure and algorithms to filter and prioritise information from sonar, radar and electronic warfare systems, helping commanders manage growing volumes of sensor data while reducing operators’ cognitive workload.
Artificial intelligence is central to this effort. Thales has more than 800 AI specialists across its global cortAIx network and entered into a strategic partnership with Naval Group in February 2026 to accelerate the development of sovereign AI for critical defence systems. Applications include Smart Radar for maritime patrol aircraft and ‘Pathmaster’, Thales’ autonomous mine-countermeasure solution, which uses AI and the Mi-Map sonar-analysis application to accelerate mine detection and classification.
The company will also present emerging technologies from its research laboratories, including acoustic materials, spintronics, quantum sensors and cold-atom technologies for navigation and inertial platforms.
Modular firepower and hybrid fleets
Under the increased firepower and availability theme, Thales will showcase containerised and modular combat systems designed for rapid deployment across different vessel types. These include TACTICOS combat management systems, MIRADOR surveillance and fire-control capabilities, and the CAPTAS family of variable-depth sonars for anti-submarine warfare.
Another highlight will be SkyDefender, Thales’ integrated, layered air and missile defence system, which combines sensors, command-and-control capabilities and effectors to address threats ranging from aircraft and missiles to drones. The company will also present electronic warfare and counter-uncrewed vehicle technologies, including capabilities for harbour protection.
The third theme focuses on hybrid fleets combining crewed vessels with uncrewed aerial, surface and underwater platforms. Thales is developing AI-assisted command-and-control systems to coordinate these assets across operational domains, with secure communications, resilience and interoperability remaining key challenges. The company will also highlight mine countermeasures, surveillance, above-water warfare, anti-submarine warfare and strike capabilities.
Production ramp-up and recruitment
Thales is also expanding its industrial capacity to meet rising defence demand. Duhamel said production of CAPTAS variable-depth sonar systems increased more than 2.5-fold between 2024 and 2025, while production of laser-guided rockets is expected to increase fivefold between 2024 and 2026. The company has expanded its industrial infrastructure in France, including a new facility in Brest inaugurated in 2024 and a sonar production site in Gémenos established in 2023.
Thales plans to recruit 9,000 people in 2026, Duhamel said, while investing in specialised training academies for radar, electronic warfare and sonar. He stressed that expanding the workforce must go hand in hand with developing the right skills and accelerating research, development and manufacturing. The effort is intended to ensure that advanced naval systems can be delivered faster as navies seek greater availability, resilience and combat readiness.
Innovation and closer engagement with navies
Duhamel said the challenge for defence manufacturers was no longer simply the pace of innovation, but how emerging technologies could be integrated into naval doctrines and operational requirements. Thales increasingly proposes capabilities that navies may not have previously considered, requiring closer collaboration to determine how these technologies can be deployed effectively.
Chaperon echoed the need for closer engagement as threats evolve rapidly, particularly in drones, counter-drone systems and integrated air and missile defence. He said each navy had specific operational requirements, but experience and solutions developed with one customer could also benefit others. The company’s approach, he said, is to combine technological innovation with long-term partnerships to help navies adapt to an increasingly complex maritime environment.
