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Safran Aircraft Engines

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Safran Aircraft Engines
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAerospace engines
PredecessorSnecma (Société nationale d'études et de construction de moteurs d'aviation)
Founded1945
FateRebranded as Safran Aircraft Engines in 2016; subsidiary of Safran
Headquarters
Courcouronnes
,
France
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsCommercial and military aircraft engines, rocket propulsion systems
OwnerSafran
Number of employees
15,700
ParentSafran
Websitewww.safran-aircraft-engines.com

Safran Aircraft Engines, previously known as Snecma (Société nationale d'études et de construction de moteurs d'aviation), is a leading French manufacturer specializing in aerospace engines. Headquartered in Courcouronnes, it operates as a subsidiary of Safran. The company is engaged in the design, production, and servicing of engines for both commercial and military aviation, as well as rocket propulsion systems for satellites and launch vehicles.

Among its notable achievements are the development of the Dassault Rafale's M88 engine, the Concorde's Olympus 593, the widely used CFM56 and CFM-LEAP engines for narrow-body aircraft, and the Ariane 5 launcher’s Vulcain rocket motor.

The workforce consists of approximately 15,700 employees distributed across 35 manufacturing plants, offices, and MRO centers worldwide. Annually, the company registers close to 500 patents. Safran Aircraft Engines also maintains two joint ventures with GE Aerospace: CFM International, recognized as the foremost supplier of commercial aircraft engines globally, and CFM Materials.

Timeline

  • 1945: Snecma was founded following the nationalization of French engine producer Gnome & Rhône. The acronym represents Société nationale d'études et de construction de moteurs d'aviation.
  • 1946: The initial team included German engineers from BMW; the first product launched was the ATAR engine.
  • Late 1940s: Integrated the nationalized firm Établissments Regnier, continuing production of the SNECMA Régnier 4L engine.
  • 1961: Entered into a partnership with Bristol Siddeley to develop the Concorde's supersonic propulsion system derived from the Bristol Olympus.
  • 1968: Expanded by acquiring aerospace firms such as Hispano-Suiza, Socata, and Bugatti.
  • Early 1970s: Consolidated landing gear activities through mergers forming Messier-Hispano-Bugatti.
  • 1974: Established a joint venture with General Electric (GE), creating CFM International to produce the highly successful CFM56 turbofan family.
  • 1990: Collaborated with GE on developing the General Electric GE90 engine.
  • 1994: Formed Messier-Dowty by combining Snecma's (Messier) and British TI Group's (Dowty) landing gear units.
  • Late 1990s: Gained full ownership of Messier-Dowty and Société européenne de propulsion.
  • 1999: Launched Snecma Services to unify MRO operations.
  • 2000: Acquired Labinal group, including subsidiaries Turbomeca and Microturbo.
  • 2001: Created Hurel-Hispano (currently Safran Nacelles) to produce engine nacelles and thrust reversers.
  • 2005: Merged with SAGEM to form Safran; Snecma was reorganized into two divisions within Safran focusing on propulsion systems and equipment.
  • 2010: Initiated CFM Materials joint venture with GE.
  • 2016: Rebranded as Safran Aircraft Engines, becoming Safran’s principal propulsion subsidiary.

Major programmes

The CFM International CFM56 turbofan stands as Safran Aircraft Engines’ most prolific commercial aero engine by production volume. Developed through a fifty-fifty partnership with General Electric (GE) in the 1970s, this engine initially faced challenges but gained market acceptance when carriers such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Flying Tigers selected it for re-engining DC-8 aircraft. Subsequently, the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 fleet became its largest operator. By July 2016, over 30,000 units had been manufactured.

Safran continues collaboration with GE on several engines including the CF6-80 and GE90. It also participates in the Engine Alliance, producing the certified-for-Airbus-A380 GP7000. During the last decade, Safran began assembling its portion of the LEAP engine under CFM International, sharing annual assembly output equally with GE. To address elevated LEAP demand, CFM broadened its supplier base to cover approximately 80% of components and expanded assembly facilities.

Through its joint venture PowerJet with Russian firm NPO Saturn, Safran manufactures the SaM146 turbofan powering the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional aircraft. Production capacity increased in 2005 with a new facility in Rybinsk (VolgAero), producing SaM146 parts alongside components for other PowerJet engines.

In military aviation, Safran produces the Snecma M88 turbofan that powers Dassault Rafale fighters. This engine employs a modular architecture facilitating maintenance and upgrades, delivering thrust from 73 kN up to 105 kN using a common core. The enhanced M88-4E variant, featuring higher thrust output and reduced maintenance requirements, conducted its maiden flight on a Rafale in May 2010.

In 2002, Safran joined forces with Germany's MTU Aero Engines, Britain's Rolls-Royce Holdings, and Spain's Industria de Turbo Propulsores to establish Europrop International (EPI). EPI is responsible for developing and supporting the Europrop TP400-D6, currently recognized as the most powerful turboprop engine in production worldwide. This engine powers Airbus Defence and Space’s A400M Atlas military transport aircraft.

In 2008, under the European Commission’s Clean Sky initiative funded with €65 million over eight years, Safran led an open rotor demonstrator project. The demonstrator was assembled in 2015 and underwent ground testing in 2017. It aims to reduce fuel burn and CO₂ emissions by approximately 30% compared to existing CFM56 engines. With a bypass ratio of about 30:1, it targets a performance improvement near 15% over the LEAP engine. The design incorporates variable-pitch carbon fiber fan blades validated through extensive testing, utilizing GE Aviation's Avio Aero for gearbox and low-pressure turbine components.

In December 2019, Safran partnered with MTU to form a fifty-fifty joint venture tasked with developing, manufacturing, and supporting a new military aero engine intended for the Future Combat Air System.

By June 2021, Safran introduced an advanced RISE open rotor concept featuring a single variable-pitch fan capable of delivering thrust around 30,000 lb (133 kN). This design promises approximately a 20% efficiency gain compared to the CFM LEAP engine for applications anticipated in the mid-2030s.

Aircraft

Commercial engines

Engine Model Partnership Ownership Percentage
CFM International CFM56 CFM International 50%
CFM International LEAP CFM International 50%
PowerJet SaM146 PowerJet 50%
General Electric GE90 GE Aerospace 23.5%
General Electric CF6 GE Aerospace 10–20%
Engine Alliance GP7000 Engine Alliance 10%
Safran Silvercrest Safran (in development)

Turbofan engines

Turboprop engines

Space propulsion

Facilities

External links

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