Safran has been operating in India across its three core businesses – aerospace, defence and security – for over 60 years. Through a combination of strong local presence and technological expertise, Safran is steadily gaining ground in a dynamic, yet highly demanding market. India is home to Safran’s largest presence anywhere in Asia, with 2,600 employees working at nine companies and joint ventures.

AEROSPACE

Commercial jets

The Indian market offers enormous potential. Aircraft manufacturers expect the country’s fleet of single aisle commercial jets to double by 2030, for example, while the long-haul wide-body market should grow sevenfold over the same period.

Safran is well placed to meet this growing demand, with over 400 CFM56 engines manufactured by CFM International, a 50-50 joint venture of Snecma (Safran) and General Electric already powering Indian airplanes. Safran has also demonstrated its long-term commitment to India by opening a new CFM maintenance training centre close to Hyderabad airport in March 2010. The centre provides training for up to 500 maintenance technicians and engineers each year for the CFM56 engine, as well as the Arriel helicopter engine manufactured by Turbomeca (Safran). The Arriel powers about 30 helicopters (AS365) for Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited, India’s leading civil helicopter operator. Safran also holds a 100 per cent share of the domestic market for wheels and carbon brakes on commercial jets.

Early successes led the Group to set up production and service facilities dedicated to the Indian market, while forging strong local partnerships. In 2005, for example, Bengaluru-based Snecma HAL Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. – a 50-50 joint venture between Snecma (Safran) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s state-owned aircraft and helicopter manufacturer – began manufacturing high-tech components for Turbomeca and the CFM56 engine. Safran Engineering Services India, another Safran company, employs nearly 700 employees in the vast southern Indian metropolis of Bengaluru.

Military aviation

Safran’s dynamic performance in the civil aviation market is echoed in the military sector. For instance, Safran has provided engines and systems for more than 1,300 airplanes and helicopters deployed by the Indian armed forces since the 1950s. The country’s Mirage 2000 fighters are powered by Snecma’s (Safran) M53 engines and its Jaguars and Hawk trainers are equipped with Turbomeca-Rolls-Royce engines.

In the helicopters field, HAL—Safran’s main partner and customer in India—has already ordered several hundred TM333 engines for Indian-built Dhruv helicopters. The company has also developed, jointly with Turbomeca, a more powerful engine called Shakti to cater to the high-altitude requirements for the Dhruv.

In addition, a development contract has been signed between HAL and Turbomeca to power the light utility helicopter (LUH) with Turbomeca’s engine (Ardiden 1U). Other major contracts in the pipeline with HAL include engines for the light combat helicopter (LCH), the existing Shakti engine (Ardiden 1H1) has been chosen to power the LCH and the helicopter is currently under prototype stage. Furthermore, Turbomeca has also created a support centre in Bengaluru that provides local customer support services in India.

DEFENCE

Safran is also present in the defence sector via three product families: inertial navigation systems, optronics and flight control system developed by Group company Sagem. Almost the entire Indian Air Force fleet is equipped with Sigma 95N navigation systems as a result of a long-standing partnership with HAL. Over the next six years, 300 new units are to be supplied for the HAL-built light combat aircraft, the Sukhoi 30, the Hawk, the Jaguar, as well as the MALE drone being developed by India.

Sagem is also providing, through its collaboration with Indian partners, the Sigma 30 for artillery and radar programmes, the Sigma 40 for most of Indian Navy surface vessel programmes and the automatic flight control system (AFCS) for Indian helicopters. Specific opportunities include the supply of high-precision artillery sighting systems, as well as panoramic surveillance and thermal imaging equipment for the Indian Navy.

To answer the Indian demand, customer technical support centre have been set up by the group with the recent creation of the New Delhi-based subsidiary Sagem Services India Pvt. Ltd.

‘Touch the sky with glory’ – Happy 82nd Air Force Day

Indian Air Force is a credible air power counted amongst the foremost professional services in the world and Safran has been a key partner to IAF’s contemporary advancements. Our one true mission is Advantage India. Reiterating our commitment to India’s security needs, Safran group joins the nation to celebrate the 82nd Indian Air Force Day!

KEY FIGURES

Presence in India since the 1950s 2,600 highly skilled employees nine companies and joint ventures located in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.