Breguet Aviation
| Company type | Société anonyme |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Automobile manufacturing |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Founder | Louis Charles Breguet, Jacques Breguet |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Fate | Merged with Dassault Aviation to form Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation |
| Headquarters | Toulouse , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Louis Charles Breguet (founder) |
| Products | Military and civil aircraft, automobiles, electric vehicles |
The Société anonyme des ateliers d'aviation Louis Breguet, commonly referred to as Breguet Aviation, was a French aircraft manufacturing company established in 1911 by the aviation innovator Louis Charles Breguet. The firm played a significant role during World War I, producing military planes such as the groundbreaking metal-constructed Breguet 14 day bomber used by Allied forces. Throughout the interwar years, Breguet's aircraft achieved notable feats including record-breaking non-stop transatlantic flights and the development of the distinctive Breguet-Dorand Gyroplane Laboratoire. Surviving World War II, the company transitioned after the war to focus on civil transport aircraft. Its Cold War-era military contributions featured the Breguet 1150 Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft and, in collaboration with British Aircraft Corporation, the SEPECAT Jaguar strike fighter. In 1971, Breguet merged with Dassault Aviation, forming Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation, which was later renamed Dassault Aviation.
History
Established in 1911 by Louis-Charles Breguet alongside his brother Jacques, the enterprise rapidly gained a reputation for aviation advancements. That same year, their inaugural airplane set a new speed benchmark over . During World War I, Breguet developed critical military reconnaissance and bomber aircraft, notably introducing metal airframe construction with the Breguet 14, extensively utilized by both French and American military units. To fulfill wartime production needs, manufacturing rights were licensed to other companies, including Michelin's aviation branch.
In the decades of the 1920s and 1930s, Breguet's aircraft accomplished several significant achievements: completing the first nonstop South Atlantic flight in 1927 and establishing a new record with a 4,500-mile nonstop Atlantic journey in 1933. The company also made strides in rotary-wing aviation through the Breguet-Dorand Gyroplane Laboratoire, which set speed and altitude records during 1935–36.
Prior to and during World War II, Breguet produced a range of military aircraft contributing to France's rearmament efforts. After the war, the company shifted its emphasis toward designing commercial transport planes. Louis-Charles Breguet passed away in 1955.
In response to NATO’s demand for a long-range maritime patrol aircraft, Breguet developed the Br 1150, which was selected in 1958. The consortium known as Société d'Étude et de Construction de Breguet Atlantic (SECBAT) was responsible for producing the Breguet 1150 Atlantic. Initial procurement came from France and Germany in 1963, with deliveries commencing in 1965. Additional orders from Italy and the Netherlands extended production into the early 1970s. A modernized variant named Atlantic Nouvelle Génération received approval in 1978, with deliveries starting in 1989.
During the 1960s, Breguet collaborated with British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) within the multinational SEPECAT joint venture to manufacture the SEPECAT Jaguar strike fighter. This aircraft incorporated design features from both firms, with manufacturing divided between France and Britain. Following Dassault’s acquisition of Breguet in 1971, priority shifted toward Dassault-developed models such as the Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard and Mirage F1, influencing production focus away from the Jaguar.
Aircraft
- Breguet-Richet Gyroplane (1907) – pioneering quad-rotor rotorcraft resembling a helicopter
- Breguet Type IV (1911) – earliest biplane produced in significant quantities
- Breguet 14 (1916) – widely deployed metal two-seat day bomber during the First World War
- Breguet-Dorand Gyroplane Laboratoire (1935) – experimental rotorcraft that established records in speed and altitude
- Breguet 1150 Atlantic (1961) – twin-engine maritime patrol plane designed for NATO operations
- SEPECAT Jaguar (1968) – strike fighter developed through an Anglo-French partnership
(Refer to List of aircraft (Br-Bz) for a comprehensive catalog of models)
Leduc aircraft
- Leduc 0.10, Leduc 0.21, Leduc 0.22 – jet-powered experimental aircraft linked to René Leduc
Automobile production
Prior to 1914, Breguet manufactured a small series of six-cylinder automobiles. During the Second World War, the company produced an electric vehicle equipped with motors from Paris-Rhône, offering two power settings corresponding to different voltage levels. This streamlined two-seater was primarily sold in 1941 at a higher price point than competitors such as Citroën and was assembled at a facility located in Anglet rather than the main factory in Toulouse.