Safran, a dynamic group

Safran is the world’s oldest aircraft engine manufacturer. Comprising a number of companies, continually refocused on their core businesses, it has played a major role in aerospace, defense and security for more than a century.

Safran is a dynamic enterprise that continually adapts and reinvents itself to meet the technological and economic challenges of the 21st century.

Safran was created on May 11, 2005 by the merger of Snecma and Sagem SA. Safran is the holding company for all subsidiaries of these two founding companies.

1905 - 1924


Louis and Laurent Seguin, inventors of the first aeronautical rotary engine, the Gnome Omega.

On June 6, 1905, Louis and Laurent Seguin founded the “Société des Moteurs Gnome” in the Paris suburb of Gennevilliers. In just a few short years, their Gnome rotary engines would become the standard for aeroplanes around the world. Louis Verdet created the company Le Rhône in 1912, and within two years, he would be Gnome’s main competitor. Gnome quickly took over its competitor, creating the Société des Moteurs Gnome & Rhône. Following the First World War, Gnome & Rhône would be one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aircraft engines

1925 - 1945

Marcel Môme, founder of Sagem

In 1925, Marcel Môme created the Société d’Applications Générale d’Electricité et de Mécanique (Sagem), whose initial business was mainly mechanical engineering. Sagem quickly diversified its business, for instance by making precision equipment for the French navy. The Société d’Applications Téléphoniques was created in 1932 and taken over by Sagem in 1939, as the Société Anonyme de Télécommunications (SAT), making it a major player in telephony and telecom business.

1945 - 1970

First launch of Diamant A rocket, on November 26, 1965 from the Brigitte launch pad at the Hammaguir base in the Sahara (Algeria).

Gnome & Rhône was nationalized in 1945, taking the name of Snecma and grouping most French aero-engine manufacturers, whose history often dated back to the beginning of the century (Renault, Lorraine, Régnier, etc.).

Over the years both Snecma and Sagem would expand and diversify.

In the early 60’, SAT designed the world’s first infrared guidance system for an air-to-air misile. The first inertial reference unit in France, produced by Sagem, was used on a Nord 2501 aircraft deployed at the Brétigny Flight Test Center. It also supplied inertial guidance systems for the ballistic missiles in France’s nuclear deterrent force, and periscope for France’s missile-launching nuclear submarines. The new Diamant A launcher was guided by a Sagem inertial guidance unit for its first launch in 1965, sending the first French satellite into orbit. Sagem also supplied navigation systems for commercial jetliners, such as the Airbus A300. Today, Sagem is the European leader in inertial navigation systems.

Snecma teamed up with Messier in the 1970s, adding Hispano-Suiza and Bugatti to create the company Messier-Hispano-Bugatti (MHB) that would consolidate all landing system products. Today, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty is the world leader in the segment of the landing and braking markets.

1973-1999

Pioneers behind the CFM56:respective company heads René Ravaud and Gerhard Neumann

In 1973 Snecma joined the very select club of companies capable of manufacturing commercial jet engines, by signing a collaboration agreement with General Electric Aircraft Engines to develop and manufacture the CFM56 (“CF” for General Electric’s commercial engine line, and “M56” for Snecma’s 56th project).

SAT logged a world first in the 1980s: a switched fiber-optic triple-play network, providing subscribers with a single connection for a complete range of services: telephone, television and Minitel (an early online service). Less than ten years later, the company would provide the set-top boxes for Canal+, France’s first pay TV station.

In 1993 Sagem acquired the Ameriacan company Morpho, a specialist in fingerprint-based biometric recognition systems. Today, Sagem Sécurité is the world leader in this market.

In 1996 Sagem invented a consumer fax machine, the “Phonefax”, and also created the first French GSM mobile phone and the first satellite TV set-top box.

Just one year later, Snecma took full control of its subsidiary SEP (Société Européenne de Propulsion), marking its full-fledged entry in the space propulsion market.

2000-2008

The Dauphin AS365 N2 helicopter, powered by twin Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 engines.

In 2000, Sagem was chosen by French defense procurement agency DGA to develop and produce the AASM modular air-to-ground weapon system.

Helicopter engine manufacturer Turbomeca joined Snecma to continue a technology success story that started in 1938 with company founder Joseph Szydlowski. Today, Turbomeca is the world’s leading producer of turbine engines for helicopters.

Aircraft wiring specialist Labinal also joined the Snecma group, and is now a world leader in this market.

Hurel-Hispano, an aerostructures company created by the merger of Hurel-Dubois and Hispano-Suiza, was renamed Aircellein 2005, and became one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aircraft engine nacelles.

Following the creation of Safran in 2005, the Group once again refocused on its core businesses, divesting both its mobile phone and broadband businesses in 2008.

Safran is the world’s oldest aircraft engine manufacturer. Comprising a number of companies with prestigious brands, it has played a major role in aerospace, defense and security for more than a century. Safran is a dynamic enterprise that continually adapts and reinvents itself to meet the technological and economic challenges of the 21st century. To bolster its Security business, Safran acquired the Dutch company Sdu-Identification, renamed Morpho B.V.

In July 2008, Safran and General Electric signed an agreement to extend their 50/50 partnership on aircraft engines (CFM International ) until 2040.

2009 - 2011

The LEAP will power the A320neo

Safran continues to apply its strategy of becoming a global leader in the security market, by acquiring the biometrics business of Motorola’s Printrak division, which becomes MorphoTrak, then 81% of General Electric’s Homeland Protection business, which become Morpho Detection. Following the purchase of the American company L-1 Identity Solutions, in 2011 Safran creates MorphoTrust USA, Inc.

The creation of Safran Corporate University provides a campus dedicated to training and skills development for all Safran group employees.

CFM’s new LEAP engine is selected by Chinese planemaker Comac to power its planned C919 jetliner. Other versions of the LEAP engine will subsequently be chosen by Airbus for its A320neo, then by Boeing for the 737 MAX.

Safran merges its Snecma Propulsion Solide (SPS) unit with SME (SNPE Matériaux Energétiques), creating Herakles, the world’s second leading solid propulsion company.

On September 19, 2011, the Safran share is added to the French stock market index, CAC 40.

Press, News & Events

2013.05.22 | Turbomeca (Safran) and HeliDax are celebrating 50,000 flight hours of the Arrius 2F
2013.05.22 | Le Prix Fondation d’entreprise Safran pour la musique est décerné au violoncelliste Victor JULIEN-LAFERRIÈRE (french only)
2013.05.22 | Management appointments at Safran

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Brazil, one of the engines driving South America’s growth, has become a leading market for Safran. The Group has also invested heavily in this country.

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Safran has created a new entity to nurture the development of tomorrow’s products and services, helping the Group maintain its leadership and expand its market reach.

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Safran, a dynamic Group

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