Safran Electronics & Defense announced the expansion of its activities in India with the opening of a new production site for electronic cards and aeronautics and defence calculators in Bengaluru, as well as a new research and development (R&D) centre in electronics. In an interaction with Manish Kumar Jha, Safran's leadership, outlined the expansion in India.

"These sites will contribute to the international expansion and exports from India for Safran," said the Safran spokesperson. It aims to reinforce the strong defence ties between Safran Electronics & Defense and its Indian customers and partners by simplifying industrial schemes, especially to accelerate the availability of critical equipment.

"This project, which aligns with the government's 'Make in India' programme demonstrates Safran's commitment to leveraging the skills and talents of the Indian industry while actively contributing to the industrial growth of the country" —Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Electronics & Defense

"This double investment, a significant step in the development of Safran Electronics & Defense's industrial and R&D activities in India, aim to enhance competitiveness and local integration of industrial and technological activities. This project, which aligns with the government's 'Make in India' programme demonstrates Safran's commitment to leveraging the skills and talents of the Indian industry while actively contributing to the industrial growth of the country," emphasizes Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Electronics & Defense.

The electronics production site, which will employ nearly 400 people, will be located in the airport area of Bengaluru, covering an area of 12,000 m². Industrial activities will begin in the first half of 2026, reaching an annual production capacity of around 30,000 pieces of equipment and several hundred references by 2030. The R&D centre will be located in the Kalyani Tech Park on 3,000 m². It will be operational from August 2025 and will quickly grow to a team of 250 engineers and technicians. "This double investment strengthens Safran Electronics & Defense's global capabilities and expertise in production and engineering in the field of electronics", he said.

"We are delighted by this new partnership with TEAL, which marks an important step in our development in India and the setting up of local supply chains" - Dominique Dupuy, Purchasing VP at Safran Aircraft Engines

Additionally, at the Aero India 2025 show, Safran Aircraft Engines, a world-leading French engine manufacturer specializing in the design, development and production of aircraft engines, and Titan Engineering and Automation Limited (TEAL), a major player in the Indian aerospace industry based in Bengaluru, also signed a contract for the production of parts for the LEAP engine's low-pressure turbine.

According to Safran's spokesperson, this first partnership between the two companies leverages TEAL's technological expertise and will enhance production capabilities for the LEAP in India. Production of the first parts will start in 2026.

India is CFM's third largest market in terms of the number of engines in service, with 75 per cent of the Indian commercial fleet equipped with CFM engines.

"We are delighted by this new partnership with TEAL, which marks an important step in our development in India and the setting up of local supply chains," adds Dominique Dupuy, Purchasing VP at Safran Aircraft Engines. "We look forward to working closely with TEAL, a major partner of our supply chain in India."

Safran Aircraft Engines is thus strengthening its footprint in India, a key market where the company already has five production sites in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Goa. A sixth site, dedicated to LEAP engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities, will open in Hyderabad in 2025. India is CFM's third largest market in terms of the number of engines in service, with 75 per cent of the Indian commercial fleet equipped with CFM engines. Today, of the 500 aircraft operated by 7 Indian airlines with CFM engines, over 370 are LEAP-powered, and over 2,000 engines are on order for Indian airlines.

Manish Kumar Jha is a Consulting & Contributing Editor for SP's Aviation, SP's Land Forces and SP's Naval Forces and a security expert. He writes on national security, military technology, strategic affairs & policies.