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The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Thales will jointly set up an International Avionics Lab in Singapore to test-bed and develop new avionics solutions to enhance air traffic management (ATM) and airport operations in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

CAAS, Thales, the Changi Airport Group (CAG), SATS, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the International Centre for Aviation Innovation (ICAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the International Avionics Lab and jointly explore, initiate and undertake avionics innovation projects. The MoU signing was witnessed by His Excellency Stephen Marchisio, Ambassador of France to Singapore, and Lau Peet Meng, Permanent Secretary (Transport).

The CAAS-Thales International Avionics Lab, which will be set up in 2026, will house around six to eight engineers for a start. It will test and develop new solutions based on real-world operational scenarios involving airlines, air navigation service providers, airport operators and ground handlers. These will improve coordination and collaboration amongst these stakeholders to improve efficiency and performance, reduce delays and optimise resources.

The new facility will be Thales’ first avionics lab outside France. It will tap on cortAIx, Thales’ new AI accelerator (launched in Singapore on May 30, 2025) to develop industrialised trusted AI solutions for critical systems. The new lab will also work with the AIR Lab, jointly established by CAAS and Thales in 2019, and aims to develop cutting-edge air traffic management solutions to optimise air transport operations in the region. CAAS will appoint ICAI to serve as the programme manager to support the overall planning and execution of the Lab’s programmes with Thales.

According to the partners, one key strength of the CAAS-Thales International Avionics Lab is its ability to leverage One Aviation eco-system in Singapore to drive research and development activities synergistically, which will help to lower the cost of investment and accelerate the development of solutions for the sector. Under the MoU, the partners will work together to identify key challenges that need to be addressed and undertake joint innovation projects to develop solutions, which could include air traffic optimisation and the digitalisation and optimisation of data shared between airlines, air traffic management and airports.

The CAAS-Thales International Avionics Lab will harness Thales’ expertise in avionics, cybersecurity and AI. It is expected to grow local capabilities in these domains, which will create new job opportunities in Singapore’s aviation workforce. It is part of CAAS’ strategy to establish Singapore as a hub for aviation innovation and strengthen Singapore’s position as a global air hub and centre for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities. It is also part of Thales’ strategy to leverage Singapore as an innovation hub to capture opportunities from the strong traffic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

Han Kok Juan, director-general, CAAS, said: “The CAAS-Thales International Avionics Lab is a good example of what Singapore offers to international technology companies – an integrated eco-system which allows them to quickly plug and play and develop new concepts and solutions that can be tried out across multiple stakeholders.”

Emily Tan, country director and CEO for Thales in Singapore, added: “The International Avionics Lab in Singapore will be the first of its kind for Thales outside France, bringing our expertise in avionics, air traffic management, data analytics, cybersecurity and AI to the fore. We have contributed to Singapore’s aerospace sector for over five decades. The International Avionics Lab is a further testament of the strong partnership with Singapore’s key aviation stakeholders to develop solutions that support Singapore’s growth as a Global Air Hub.”

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Read more about Thales, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Changi Airport (SIN).