Thales is the leading high technology company in Northern Ireland, employing more than 500 people in the defence and space sectors. Thales Air Defence Ltd, formerly Shorts Missile systems, is a centre of excellence and produces short range air defence missiles. Belfast beat international competition to become home to Thales’s hub for UK space technology manufacturing engine modules to propel the Spacebus Neo satellite. Thales is committed to Northern Ireland’s future and supports research at Queens University and STEM outreach programmes in Northern Ireland schools.