Safran will establish Safran Tech UK, a dedicated research and technology centre in Britain, its first such site outside France. The move supports rising work in the country and signals a broader global expansion of research activities. The new hub will focus on technologies tied to lower carbon flight, within what Safran calls a rich UK innovation ecosystem. It marks a clear shift in pace for Safran UK.
Early plans concentrate on two areas, electrification of propulsion and actuation systems, and high performance composite materials. Safran says three quarters of group research now targets decarbonization of aviation. Across Britain, Safran counts about 5,500 employees and 14 sites, with annual revenue of £1.5 billion (C$2.6 billion).
“Launching Safran Tech UK, our first research entity outside France, reflects our ambition to make the United Kingdom a catalyst for innovation,” said Olivier Andriès.
The network spans work from research to maintenance, covering civil and military platforms. Safran points to UK strengths in electrical systems, landing gear, seats, nacelles, and helicopter engines.
Focus on electrification and composites
The centre’s remit aligns with product road maps for future single aisle aircraft, where more functions will be electric. Electrified actuation and lighter composite structures are seen as levers to cut fuel burn and emissions. Safran’s UK teams already work across the full value chain, from design and engineering to MRO.
The new unit is meant to seed early-stage technologies that can flow into these programmes. Management frames the effort as a practical step that ties research funding to industrial delivery. The emphasis is on near-term demonstrators, not only long-term concepts.
Safran’s push follows a busy 2025 for its British operations. In July, Safran completed the closing of the Collins Aerospace actuation and flight control acquisition on July 21, 2025. The deal broadened Safran’s global actuation and flight control footprint, with facilities across Europe and Asia.
Integration work through the year strengthened UK capability in systems central to future aircraft. Safran links this base, and legacy operations, to its status as the country’s third largest civil aerospace player. The new research centre aims to feed that pipeline with homegrown innovation.
Investment on the ground has also continued through the year. In April, Safran Landing Systems opened a new engineering and support centre in Gloucester, part of a three phase plan. The site supports design, development, and customer services for landing gear programmes.
“This investment is not only fantastic for our workforce and the local area,” said François Bastin. The Gloucester project highlights how facility upgrades can accelerate product changes that cut emissions. Safran Tech UK is expected to connect with these sites as new ideas move into production and service.