Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries & Infrastructure Development M B Patil has inaugurated a new In-Flight Entertainment & Services Lab at French aerospace and defence corporation Thales’ Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru. The newly inaugurated lab will serve as a hub for advanced research, testing, and development in in-flight entertainment technologies.
“Thales has consistently invested in Karnataka’s innovation ecosystem, collaborating with local industry, premier academic institutions, and the broader defence and aerospace community. Through its sustained efforts, Thales has integrated Karnataka into its global innovation network while helping nurture the skilled workforce that powers our aerospace and defence ambitions,“ Patil said speaking at the inauguration.
The minister also added that the new centre is a testament to Karnataka’s status as a global hub for high-tech engineering.
Thales operates two offices in Bengaluru working on mission-critical systems in avionics, air-traffic management, connectivity, and flight management. The new lab comes after the aerospace major had floated plans to establish a dedicated avionics maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) in the country by the first quarter of 2025.
The inauguration also witnessed the presence of Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru.
The company has worked on joint ventures with Bharat Electronics Limited — BEL-Thales Systems — which focuses on developing cutting-edge defence electronics.
Karnataka is home to a robust aerospace and defence ecosystem including global giants like Rolls-Royce and Safran and start-ups like Pixxel, NopoNanotech, and Newspace Research.
(With inputs from businessline intern Rohan Das)
Published on June 4, 2025
