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| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Euronext Paris: SAF CAC 40 component | |
| Industry | Aerospace Defence |
| Predecessor | Snecma,Sagem |
| Founded | 11 May 2005; 20 years ago (2005-05-11) |
| Headquarters | , France |
Key people | Olivier Andriès [fr] (CEO) Ross McInnes (chairman)[1] |
| Products | Aircraft engines, equipment, and interiors, defenceelectronics,avionics,navigation system, communications systems,satellites |
| Revenue |  €27.31 billion (2024)[2] |
| €4.11 billion (2024) | |
| €3.06 billion (2024) | |
| Total assets | €55.01 billion (end 2024) |
| Total equity |  €10.72 billion (end 2024) |
Number of employees | 91,984 (2023)[3] |
| Subsidiaries | OEMServices[4] Safran Aero Boosters Safran Aerosystems Safran Aircraft Engines Safran Cabin Safran Ceramics Safran Electrical & Power Safran Electronics & Defense Safran Helicopter Engines Safran Landing Systems Safran Nacelles Safran Passenger Solutions Safran Seats Safran Transmission Systems ArianeGroup (50% ownership) PowerJet (50% ownership) |
| Website | safran-group |
Safran S.A. (French pronunciation:[safʁɑ̃]) is a Frenchmultinationalaerospace,defence andsecurity corporation headquartered inParis. It designs, develops and manufactures both commercial and militaryaircraft engines;launch vehicle,spacecraft andmissile propulsion systems; as well as various other aerospace and military equipment and devices. The company was founded in 2005 through a merger between the aerospace engine manufacturerSNECMA and the electronics specialistSAGEM. Safran's subsequent acquisition ofZodiac Aerospace in 2018 significantly expanded itsaeronautical activities.
Employing over 92,000 people and generating 27.31 billion euros in revenue in 2024, the company is listed on theEuronext stock exchange and is part of theCAC 40 andEuro Stoxx 50.[5]
The name Safran was chosen from 4,250 suggestions, including 1,750 proposed by employees.[6][7] As aholding company for many subsidiaries, the name was deemed suitable for the suggestion of direction, movement, and strategy. Safran translates asrudder blade and assaffron, which the company highlights as one of the catalysts for early international trade.[8]
In 1905 Louis Seguin created the companyGnome.[9] Production of the firstrotary engine for airplanes, the Gnome Omega, started in 1909.[9] This company merged withLe Rhône, a company created in 1912 by Louis Verdet, to form theGnome et Rhône engine company.[9] Gnome & Rhône wasnationalized in 1945, creatingSnecma.[9] In 2000, this company gave its name to the “Snecma Group”, and carried out a number of acquisitions to form a larger group with an array of complementary businesses.[9]
Sagem (Société d’Applications Générales de l’Electricité et de la Mécanique) was created in 1925 by Marcel Môme.[9] In 1939, Sagem entered the telephone and transmissions market by taking control of Société anonyme des télécommunications (SAT). It acquired Société de Fabrication d’Instruments de Mesure (Sfim), a measurement instrument specialist, in 1999. However, by 2008 Sagem Mobile and Sagem Communications had been sold. Sagem Mobile becameSagem Wireless in January 2009.[10]
The Safran Group was created on 11 May 2005 with the merger ofSnecma andSagem SA.[9]
In June 2014, Arianespace CEOStéphane Israël announced that European efforts to remaincompetitive in response toSpaceX's recent success have begun in earnest. This included the creation of a newjoint venture company fromArianespace's two largestshareholders: the launch-vehicle producerAirbus and engine-producer Safran.[11]
By May 2015, Safran had created with Airbus Group a launcher joint venture calledAirbus Safran Launchers.[12]This entity developed theAriane 6launch vehicle for its initial flights in July 2024.[13]
In January 2017, Safran initiated atakeover of the aircraft interior supplierZodiac Aerospace to create the third largest aerospace supplier with $22.5 billion revenue, behindUnited Technologies with $28.2 billion andGE Aviation with $24.7 billion; the new group will be 92,000-employee strong, with 48% of its business in aircraft systems and equipment, from landing gears to seats, 46% in propulsion and 6% in defense.[8]
In May 2017, Safran announced the completion of the sale of its identity and security activities toAdvent International for Euro 2.4 billion.[14]
In February 2018, Safran took control ofZodiac Aerospace, significantly expanding its aircraft equipment activities. Zodiac Aerospace has 32,500 employees and generated sales of 5.1 billion euros for its fiscal year ended 31 August 2017.[5]
On 4 June 2018,Boeing and Safran announced their 50-50 partnership to design, build and serviceauxiliary power units after regulatory andantitrust clearance in the second half of 2018.[5]This could threaten the dominance ofHoneywell andUnited Technologies.[15]
In July 2023, Safran agreed to acquireRaytheon subsidiaryCollins Aerospace's actuation and flight controls business unit in an all-cash deal worth $1.8 billion[16][17] however the Italian government used its Golden Share in Microtecnica to veto the sale in the belief it would give Safran the commercial ability to sabotage Eurofighter components production, RTX is legally challenging the use of the veto.[18]
In September 2024, Safran acquired Preligens, a company that specialises in artificial intelligence for aerospace and defense, for $243.3 million and announced it would become a part of the Safran Electronics & Defense business area.[19]
As of June 2025, Safran Aircraft Engines and Safran Electricals & Power already operates facilities inHyderabad inIndia to manufacture rotating turbine seals for theLEAP engine and electrical harnesses for the LEAP engine,Rafale jets,Falcon 10X andFADEC, respectively. Additionally, Safran plans to establish a new subsidiary — Safran Aircraft Engine Services India — in Hyderabad formaintenance and overhaul of Rafale'sSnecma M88 engines of theIndian Air Force fleet by 2026-end. The project is expected to generate 150 jobs by inauguration and eventually additional 750 jobs.[20]
The Safran group is divided into three main branches:[21]
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The aerospace propulsion branch groups all operations concerning the propulsion of aeroplanes, helicopters, missiles, and launchers, for the civil aviation, military aviation, and space markets: design, production, marketing, testing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).
At the October 2018NBAA convention, Safran presented its ENGINeUSelectric motor range up to 500 kW (670 hp) designed forelectric aircraft, starting with a 45 kW (60 hp) one with integratedcontrol electronics, with anenergy efficiency of over 94% and apower-to-weight ratio of 2.5 kW / kg at 2,500 rpm and 172 N⋅m (127 lb⋅ft) of torque, for a 18-kilogram (40 lb) weight with the controller, 12 kilograms (26 lb) without.[22]Flight-testing may happen in 2019 or 2020.[23]
The aircraft equipment branch groups all design, production, sales, and support operations for systems and equipment used by civil and military airplanes and helicopters.
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