Defence firm Thales investigated by Serious Fraud Office over suspected bribery

French defence giant Thales is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for suspected bribery and corruption.

Authorities in the UK and France said they were carrying out a joint probe into the company, which employs more than 7,000 staff in the UK.

Thales is one of the Government's key defence contractors and built hundreds of Lightweight Multirole Missiles which the UK sent to Ukraine in September.

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The investigation comes after police in France, the Netherlands and Spain searched the company's offices in June, allegedly over suspicions of corruption linked to arms sales abroad.

Investigators from the SFO and French authority Parquet National Financier have informed the company of the investigation.

SFO director Nick Ephgrave said: "Working collaboratively with our international partners is a crucial factor in the fight against international corruption.

"With this case, I hope to reinforce the SFO and PNF's long-standing relationship, built on mutual cooperation and shared success.

"We will together rigorously pursue every avenue in our investigation into these serious allegations."

Thales issued a statement saying: "Thales confirms that the Parquet National Financier (PNF) in France and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the United Kingdom have initiated an investigation in relation to four Thales entities located in France and the UK, regarding the performance of a contract in Asia.

"Thales denies the allegations brought to its knowledge.

"The Group is fully cooperating with the PNF in France and the SFO in the UK. Thales complies with all national and international regulations."

Lightweight Multirole Missile a key product

Thales specialises in defence electronics and built the 650 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) that the UK announced it would supply to Ukraine in September in a £162m order.

LMMs, which are manufactured at one of Thales' plants in Belfast, are designed for short-range fire and can hit targets around 6km away in the air and on the ground.

Thales also won a £1.8bn UK defence contract in February, which will see it maintain the Royal Navy's fleet of ships and submarines for the next 15 years.