Thales raises 2025 sales growth forecast on strong defence demand

July 23 (Reuters) - French defence and aerospace group Thales TCFP.PA raised its 2025 sales growth forecast on Wednesday after posting higher first-half sales and profit amid higher military spending in Europe.

Europe's largest defence electronics firm also said its widely watched adjusted operating profit rose 12.7% on a comparable basis to 1.25 billion euros, fractionally above market forecasts, led by the Aerospace and Defence units.

The company, whose portfolio spans fighter radars to seat-back screens for airlines, now expects 2025 sales growth of between 6% and 7% instead of the 5% to 6% it had forecast previously, pointing to full-year revenue between 21.8 billion euros ($25.62 billion) and 22 billion euros.

Thales, partially owned by the French state, said sales rose 8.1% on a like-for-like basis to 10.27 billion euros in the first half, while new orders fell 4% to 10.35 billion due to a tough comparison with last year's surge in big-ticket deals.

Revenues were slightly lower than expected, though orders came in ahead of expectations.

Analysts had on average been forecasting half-year sales of 10.35 billion euros and 9.02 billion euros of fresh orders, as well as an adjusted operating profit of 1.22 billion euros, according to a company-compiled consensus.

The increase in sales was mostly driven by defence and avionics activities, CEO Patrice Caine told reporters.