Safran and Pen Aviation sign a partnership, marking first export success for new compact optronic systems
Business
Paris Airshow, 19 June 2025
Pen Aviation, a leading drone systems developer both in France and in Asia, and Safran Electronics & Defense are pleased to announce the signing of an addendum to their partnership, building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) initially signed in 2024, which laid the foundation for a strategic collaboration to advance the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) sector.
This new agreement expands the scope of cooperation between the two companies to include Safran’s new line of compact airborne electro-optical systems (EOS), with Pen Aviation committing to become the launch customer for these lightweight systems, complementing the legacy EuroflirTM 410.
Pen Aviation, based in France and Malaysia, is a key player in the regional drone ecosystem, developing a comprehensive family of UAVs ranging from 20 kg to 1,360 kg. Building on the successful collaboration around the Euroflir™ 410, the addendum formalizes Pen Aviation’s interest in equipping its platforms with Safran’s new generation of small-size, high-performance optronic systems.
This agreement is an important step for Safran Electronics & Defense, creating new opportunities in the fast-growing drone market and strengthening its role as a reliable partner for advanced surveillance solutions.
“Innovation has always been at the heart of our strategy, driving us to embrace and integrate cutting-edge technologies that support operational excellence and sovereignty. With this agreement, we are enhancing our ability to meet new needs and seize opportunities in the fast-growing drone market, while reinforcing our position as a trusted partner for advanced surveillance solutions”, said Alexandre Ziegler, Executive Vice President, Defense Division of Safran Electronics & Defense.
“This advancement significantly expands our capability to deliver mission-ready solutions across our UAV fleet portfolio. By integrating Safran’s new compact electro-optical system (EOS), we can now outfit lighter UAVs without sacrificing performance. This gives our customers greater mission flexibility, reduced additional payload limitations, and improved effectiveness in challenging environments. Whether in logistics, surveillance, search and rescue, or other high-demand operations, this capability allows us to respond to evolving mission requirements with greater agility and lower risk, while continuing to uphold the reliability and technical excellence that define both Pen Aviation and Safran” said Jean Bernard Boura, Managing Director at Pen Aviation and President of Pen Group, Pen Aviation’s holding company.
With this partnership, Pen Aviation confirms its commitment to integrating best-in-class technologies into its UAV platforms, while Safran Electronics & Defense takes a decisive step toward expanding its footprint in Asia, supporting both innovation and sovereignty.
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Lucie BATON
Safran Electronics & Defense
Rebecca Megan NEELAMEGAN
PEN AVIATION SDN BHD
About Safran
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers on-board intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, to reduce mental load and to guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 15,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.
À propos de Pen Aviation
Pen Aviation Sdn Bhd est une filiale de PEN GROUP SAS et propose des services (conseil, vente d’aéronefs, affrètement, investissement) ainsi que la conception et la fabrication de systèmes automatisés certifiés sans pilote (UAS) sous la marque PEN UAS© du groupe. PEN UAS offre une solution écosystémique complète aux organismes gouvernementaux et aux acteurs du secteur privé, en fournissant des solutions personnalisées, adaptées à leurs besoins. PEN UAS conjugue l’expertise de Pen Aviation dans la conception de systèmes automatisés complexes et celle de DGMIND© dans l’automatisation des processus métier et opérationnels pour les entreprises d’exploitation de drones. DGMIND©, développée par DGMIND SAS (spin-off de Pen Aviation Sdn. Bhd et filiale de PEN GROUP SAS), propose une suite complète de services numériques via sa plateforme automatisée, permettant de gérer efficacement des flottes de drones et d’assurer ainsi le développement d’activités d’exploitation de flottes de drones rentables et évolutives.
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- © Christel Sasso / CAPA Pictures / Safran