€120 million investment will increase output of advanced inertial navigation sensors and create 500 new jobs

SAFRAN ANNOUNCES MAJOR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION

Safran Electronics & Defense has announced a €120 million investment programme to expand and modernise its Montluçon facility in France, significantly increasing production of its hemispherical resonator gyroscope (HRG) technology.

The investment is intended to triple annual production capacity from 10,000 units to 30,000 units by 2032, responding to growing demand for advanced inertial navigation systems across defence, aerospace and space applications.

To support the expansion, the site will add 10,500 square metres of industrial space, including 3,000 square metres of new cleanroom facilities equipped with next-generation manufacturing equipment.

TWO-PHASE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The expansion will be delivered in two stages. An initial 2,500 square metre extension is scheduled for completion in 2027, followed by a further 8,000 square metre expansion by 2030.

Safran Electronics & Defense, already the largest industrial employer in the Allier region with more than 1,640 employees, expects the project to create approximately 500 additional jobs by 2030.

CORE TECHNOLOGY FOR NAVIGATION SYSTEMS

Developed and industrialised entirely at the Montluçon facility, the HRG forms the core of Safran’s inertial navigation systems.

The technology is used across a broad range of applications, including munitions, drones, artillery systems, armoured vehicles, military aircraft, helicopters, naval vessels, submarines, satellites and launch vehicles.

According to Safran, one of the key advantages of the HRG is its ability to provide highly accurate navigation in GPS-denied environments, ensuring continued operation when satellite navigation signals are unavailable or disrupted.

The company noted that demand for sovereign navigation technologies, including systems integrated into the Hammer modular air-to-ground weapon, has increased significantly in recent years.

SUPPORTING DEFENCE AND AEROSPACE REQUIREMENTS

Franck Saudo, President of Safran Electronics & Defense, said the investment would strengthen the company’s position in the navigation sector while supporting increasing customer requirements.

He described the HRG as a technology that has helped redefine the inertial navigation market through its industrial-scale production model and role within Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions.

HISTORIC SITE CONTINUES TO GROW

The Montluçon facility, originally established in 1934, is one of Safran’s historic industrial sites.

The factory has expanded from its original 37,000 square metres to approximately 100,000 square metres today, including 6,000 square metres of cleanroom space. Following completion of the latest expansion programme, the site will cover approximately 110,500 square metres.