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2009

11.12.2009
Safran applauds first flight of A400M

PRESS RELEASE

Paris, December 11, 2009

The Safran group is very pleased with the successful first flight of the Airbus A400M military transport. The aircraft took off for the first time in Seville, southern Spain, for a test flight lasting 3 hours and 45 minutes. Safran, a major partner in this program, was represented by Marc Ventre, Executive Vice President, Aerospace Propulsion branch, and Philippe Petitcolin, Chairman and CEO of Snecma (Safran group) and non-executive Chairman of Europrop International (EPI)*.

Safran plays a significant role in the A400M program, especially through the EPI consortium that produces the airplane’s TP400 engine. Other systems and equipment supplied by Safran include the landing gear and systems, wheels and carbon brakes, navigation system, electrical wiring and air starters.

“The A400M is the culmination of a singular European industrial partnership that started in 2001,” said Safran CEO Jean-Paul Herteman after the first flight. “Its capacity of 37 metric tons and modular design makes it the new global benchmark in airlift. The aircraft’s performance is partly due to its TP400 engine, the most powerful turboprop in the West to date.”

* EPI (Europrop International) is a consortium created by the four leading aero-engine companies in Europe – Industria de Turbo Propulsores (ITU) of Spain, MTU Aero Engines of Germany, Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom and Snecma (Safran group) of France – to design and produce the TP400 engine.

***

Safran is a leading international high-technology group with three core businesses: Aerospace (propulsion and equipment), Defense and Security. Operating worldwide, the Safran group has 54,500 employees and generated sales exceeding 10 billion euros in 2008. Working alone or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. The Group invests heavily in Research & Development to meet the requirements of changing markets, including expenditures of 1.2 billion euros in 2008. Safran is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris and its share is part of the SBF 120 and Euronext 100 indexes.

SAFRAN CONTACT

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Tel +33(0)1 40 60 80 45
pascal.bantegnie@safran.fr

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