On the eve of Aero India 2019, Thales has announced the launch of its Global Engineering Competence Centre (ECC) in Bengaluru. The centre aims to accelerate innovation and digital transformation to serve the needs of both the Indian market, and the Group’s global objectives. The choice of Bengaluru acknowledges the fact that India trains hundreds of thousands of highly qualified engineers every year.

With the ECC, Thales seeks to play a major role in job creation and skill development in India as it targets to hire 3,000 engineers in the next three-five years along with its partners. The centre will focus on software and hardware capabilities in the areas of civil as well as defence businesses. It will also help to build closer ties to the company's Indian supply chain partners.

P Satish Menon has been appointed to head this Centre. He brings with him 30 years expertise in the fields of engineering, R&D and programme management.

Initially, the ECC will dedicate activities to high value-added systems in the fields of Air Traffic Management, avionics, cockpit, flight management, inflight entertainment and connectivity systems, radar software, airborne Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance tactical management systems. The ECC will also concentrate on the creation of capabilities in advanced hardware technology such as Radio Frequency/designs for radars and communication equipment, high performance processing units and in airborne digital processing functions.

On the occasion of Aero India 2019, Thales Executive Board Members will welcome dignitaries from the Indian industry and government bodies at the ECC for an inauguration ceremony on 22^nd February.

“With our plans of hiring over 3000 engineers in the coming years, we look forward to significantly contributing to the 'Skill India’ initiative and innovation in the country,” declared Pascale Sourisse, Senior Executive Vice-President, International Development, Thales.