Aerospace
Safran is a major partner to the Russian aviation industry, based on a wide range of alliances and collaboration agreements concerning the development, production and sale of propulsion systems for airplanes and helicopters. For more than 20 years now, Safran has supplied CFM56®* turboshaft engines (developed, built and sold by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE) to Russian airlines including Aeroflot and S7. The SaM146, which powers the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet, entered service in 2011. Since then it has logged an exceptional dispatch reliability rate of 99.9 %, while adapting to all operating environments and recording maintenance costs up to 20% lower than other engines in its class. After creating PowerJet, Safran and NPO Saturn created two other equally-owned companies, both based in Rybinsk: VolgAero (2005), which makes parts for the SaM146 and CFM56 engines, and Poluevo (2007), to build and operate the open-air engine test cell.
Safran has also set up partnerships on helicopter turbine engines with manufacturers such as Russian Helicopters. Kamov, a Russian Helicopters company, has already chosen Safran turboshaft engines for two of its machines: the Arrius 2G1 for the Ka 226T twin-engine, twin-rotor helicopter, and the Ardiden 3G for the Ka-62. The Safran-powered Ka-62 made its first flight in April 2016.
Safran also works with Russian airlines as a supplier of onboard flight-data processing interfaces.
A key russian partner
Safran has an excellent long-term outlook in the Russian market. Its major current objective is to bolster collaboration with its partners and customers, including private manufacturers such as UAC (United Aircraft Corporation) and UEC (United Engine Corporation), but also state agencies and institutions. The Group's collaboration with Russia on Research & Development is a key component in Safran's corporate strategy. Safran's aviation companies are already carrying out joint R&D work with Russian counterparts.
