The War Zone
• Thomas Newdick
France has begun Rafale F5 development with contracts for Dassault Aviation, Thales, MBDA France and Safran, targeting qualification around 2033. In parallel, Pegase 2026 is deploying Rafale fighters alongside A330 MRTT Phénix tankers and A400M transports to Alaska via the Arctic.
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France has begun Rafale F5 development with contracts for Dassault Aviation, Thales, MBDA France and Safran, targeting qualification around 2033. In parallel, Pegase 2026 is deploying Rafale fighters alongside A330 MRTT Phénix tankers and A400M transports to Alaska via the Arctic.
France has ordered the MBDA-Safran Thundart guided rocket system, designed to replace the Army’s LRU and reach 150 km, while Sweden and Croatia pursue different rocket-artillery solutions. Australia has also declared initial operational capability for the AGM-158C LRASM and AGM-158B JASSM-ER.
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MBDA and Safran won approval to supply France’s new long-range land-strike capability, while the U.S. expanded military connectivity with 21 PWSA Tranche-1 satellites. Separate awards include up to $4.84 billion for Northrop Grumman’s CIRCM system, $4.7 billion to L3Harris for PAC-3 MSE propulsion and $343.2 million for T56 sustainment.
India is seeking access to critical fighter-engine technology available to only a handful of countries, as Rolls-Royce and Safran vie to support its next-generation fighter program. The competition could center as much on technology access as on the engine itself.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and Safran Helicopter Engines have signed an agreement through their SAFHAL joint venture to develop and produce the high-power Aravalli turboshaft engine. The engine is intended for HAL’s Indian Multi-Role Helicopter and naval Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter programs, deepening India-France defense cooperation.
Safran’s chief technology officer detailed the scope of the aerospace group’s collaboration with ZeroAvia, confirming that Safran has not invested directly in its partner. The companies are pursuing joint research efforts that could help generate additional funding for their technology-development work.
Safran’s Arriel 2K turboshaft has received EASA certification for Leonardo’s AW09 helicopter, following more than 600 hours of flight testing since its first flight in March 2023. The approval advances the engine-airframe combination toward operational deployment and removes a key certification milestone for the single-engine rotorcraft.
MTU Aero Engines CEO Johannes Bussmann cautioned that differing French and German fighter aircraft requirements could put at risk the company’s engine partnership with Safran, following the collapse of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.
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