Overview

• The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and France’s Parquet National Financier (PNF) have launched a joint investigation into suspected bribery and corruption involving Thales.
• The probe focuses on four Thales entities in the UK and France, with allegations linked to a foreign arms contract in Asia, including bribery of officials and money laundering.
• The investigation follows raids on Thales offices in France, Spain, and the Netherlands earlier this year, conducted as part of broader corruption inquiries.
• Thales, a key defense contractor for the UK government, recently supplied 650 Lightweight Multirole Missiles to Ukraine and secured a £1.8 billion contract to maintain the Royal Navy’s fleet.
• Thales has denied the allegations and stated it is cooperating fully with authorities in both countries, while declining further comment due to the ongoing investigation.