Snecma

Snecma S.A.
Subsidiary
Industry Aerospace
Defence
Founded 1945 (1945)
Headquarters Courcouronnes, France
Key people
 Olivier Andriès (CEO)
Products Commercial & military aero engines
Space propulsion
€5.3 billion (2013)
Number of employees
 12,400 (2010)
Parent Safran
Website www.snecma.com

Snecma S.A. or Safran Aircraft Engines is a French multinational aircraft and rocket engine manufacturer headquartered in Courcouronnes, France. Alone or in partnership, Snecma designs, develops, produces and markets engines for civil and military aircraft, launch vehicles (carrier rockets) and satellites. The company also offers a complete range of engine support services to airlines, armed forces and other operators. Snecma is a subsidiary of Safran.

Name

Snecma used to be an acronym for Société nationale d'études et de construction de moteurs d'aviation (in English, "National Company for the Design and Construction of Aviation Engines") until 27 April 2004.

History

Snecma was formed in 1945 with German BMW jet engine technology when the large French aero engine firm Gnome & Rhône was nationalised.

1960s

In 1961, Snecma and Bristol Siddeley agreed to a joint venture to produce the power plant for Concorde, which would become the Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593. the main body of the engine came from the Bristol Olympus with the refinements being the addition of the variable intakes necessary for supersonic flight.

In 1968, Snecma took control of Hispano-Suiza, Socata and Bugatti. Snecma valued Bugatti's automobile background (turbochargers and engines). In a subsequent reorganisation, all aero-engine maintenance services would be grouped as Socata-Snecma.

1970s and 1980s

In 1970, Messier and Snecma agreed to merge their landing gear businesses. The following year, Messier-Hispano was formed in which Snecma held a stake. Snecma took full control of Messier-Hispano in 1973.

In 1977, the landing gear business was further consolidated by the creation of Messier-Hispano-Bugatti (later renamed Messier-Bugatti).

Snecma and General Electric (GE) created a joint venture in 1974, CFM International, beginning a long term relationship which continues today. Testing of FADEC, a joint development of the two companies, began in 1985.

1990s

In 1990, Snecma announced its participation in the General Electric GE90 engine programme.

Messier-Dowty was formed in 1994 following the merger of the landing gear businesses of Snecma (Messier) and the British TI Group (Dowty).

In 1997 Snecma acquired 100 per cent of Société européenne de propulsion.[1]

In 1998, Snecma took full control of Messier-Dowty.

In 1999, Snecma Services was created to consolidate all maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations (including Sochata-Snecma).

In 2000, Snecma became a holding company and the propulsion business was reformed as Snecma Moteurs. Later in the year Snecma acquired Labinal, along with its Turbomeca and Microturbo subsidiaries.

In 2001, Hurel-Hispano (now renamed and known as Aircelle) was created to consolidate the group's engine nacelle and thrust reverser businesses.

In 2005, Snecma merged with Sagem to form SAFRAN. Snecma was divided, with the company's subsidiaries contributing to the propulsion and equipment divisions of the new group. Snecma moteurs was then renamed Snecma.

In 2010, Snecma and GE formed CFM Materials as a joint venture (50/50).

In 2016, Snecma was renamed Safran Aircraft Engines.

Products

CFM International CFM56 powering several airliners.
M88 used on the Dassault Rafale.
PowerJet SaM146 used on Sukhoi Superjet 100.
Vulcain II, main engine of the Ariane 5 launcher.

The company's major civil aircraft engine is the CFM International CFM56. Produced by a partnership between Snecma and General Electric, CFM56s power more than 4,900 aircraft around the world.

Snecma is also the main partner for the General Electric CF6-80 and GE90 programs. Snecma recently increased its presence in the high-thrust turbofan segment by joining the Engine Alliance GP7000 program managed by the Engine Alliance, a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric and Pratt & Whitney. This engine is one of two options available to power the Airbus A380.

The company has entered into the PowerJet partnership with NPO Saturn of Russia to provide SaM146 engines for the Sukhoi Superjet 100.

Aircraft

Commercial engines

Military engines

Space engines

Sites

References

  1. ↑ "Societe Europeenne De Propulsion (France)". Jane's Space Systems and Industry. 12 April 2005. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  2. ↑ "Safran Reveals New Turboprop Efforts". Aviation Week. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Safran veut s'attaquer au monopole de Pratt & Whitney" (in French). aerobuzz.fr. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
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