Thales Research and Technology Ltd (TRT (UK)) has been built up from a number of diverse research and development organisations of the former Racal group of companies. It is this diversity that gives it its strength, by combining different skills, such as networks and radio systems, within a single project team.
TRT (UK) has its origins in the Research and Advanced Engineering Laboratory of Racal Engineering Ltd, which was set up in Crowthorne, Berkshire in about 1958. The Racal Group in those days manufactured test equipment and receivers, and work focussed on areas relevant to these, such as frequency standards and synthesisers. In 1962, the site was closed and the company was merged into Racal Communications, though its work continued.
In 1965, another group was set up under the name of Racal Research in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, working on ASIC and thick-film hybrid design. As well as designing the devices, the group also produced design software, out of which the company Racal-REDAC was born. In 1980, the ASIC and thick-film design group moved to Reading under the name of Racal Microelectronic Systems Ltd.
The present TRT (UK) was set up in Reading in 1973, as the Advanced Development Division of Racal Group Services Ltd. It changed its name to Racal Research Ltd in 1980, and moved to its present location on Worton Grange Business Park in 1982, having outgrown its original facilities. At about the same time, it was merged with Racal Microelectronic Systems Ltd.
Meanwhile, in late 1980 (shortly after being taken over by Racal) the Decca group set up a research facility called New Business Advanced Design and Development based in Chessington, Surrey. In 1982 this moved to Hersham, Surrey and was renamed Racal-Decca Advanced Development. This facility had two key work areas: satellite communications and electronic warfare. In 1992, the company was merged into the Racal Research Reading site, and the site at Hersham was closed.
In 1993, the advanced development team from Racal Datacom, who were at the time developing the ISX5540, a megastream bandwidth manager, were transferred to Racal Research, where this work continued. They brought with them skills in telecommunications networks.
In 2000, the Racal Group was taken over by Thomson-CSF, the combined company being called Thales, and Racal Research Ltd was renamed Thales Research Ltd. Finally, the research activities of the Thales group were unified under the name Thales Research and Technology, with offices in Reading (UK), Orsay (France), Delft (the Netherlands), and in Singapore