Safran, French defence group opens unit in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Safran provides services in the fields of satellite communication and satellite tracking, along with manufacturing critical machinery for fighter aircraft, rockets and missiles.

In a Facebook post, Rajeev said Safran plans to turn its first unit in Kerala into a space test centre in the Asia Pacific region shortly. He said the company has also expressed interest in starting an assembling/manufacturing unit for Safran Space Products in Kerala itself.

Safran also aims to produce 50 percent of the products required by India’s space agency ISRO, the minister said, adding that it will give strength to Kerala’s efforts to become the nation’s hub in the aerospace sector.

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In July last year, the company announced the setting up of a production facility in Hyderabad to produce parts and components for advanced aircraft engines with an investment of Euro 36 million, besides a big-ticket joint venture with state-run aerospace behemoth HAL in Bengaluru.

After a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Safran CEO Olivier Andries, it was also announced that the joint venture in Bengaluru will produce engines for helicopters, while the French company will also set up an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facility for Indian and foreign commercial aircraft.

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