The Foundation of CFM: Snecma Experience

Snecma, a Safran group company, designs and builds engines for commercial and military aircraft, either alone or in partnership.

Snecma benefits from the synergies generated by Safran’s three high-tech core businesses: Aerospace Propulsion, Defense and Security. Safran has more than 55,000 employees in more than 30 countries and holds, alone or in partnership, global or European leadership positions in all of its markets.

Pioneer of Aviation

During World War I, France was the leading manufacturer of aircraft engines.

Between the two world wars, French military heroes such as General Charles de Gaulle helped write the history of aviation. In fact, General de Gaulle signed the bill creating the state-owned Snecma on May 29, 1945. This returned France, after a lapse, to its leading role in the aviation industry.

From the outset, Snecma focused on developing a revolutionary technology: the jet engine. With the help of German engineers who pioneered this technology, Snecma developed the Atar combat aircraft engine in the early 1950s. Powering many different versions of Dassault aircraft, this engine was inextricably linked with the worldwide success of the famous Mirage fighter family.

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Thanks to Snecma, France enjoyed a totally independent source of engines for both its own military aircraft and for aircraft exported to a number of other countries.

Today, Snecma occupies a prominent position within both aeronautics and space fields. Besides partnering with GE on the CFM56, the company developed both the M88-02 for the Rafale D combat aircraft and the twin solid-propulsion units for the Ariane 5 launch vehicle.