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This project aims to triple the production capacity of its hemispherical resonator gyroscope (HRG). Recognized as the most advanced inertial sensor in the world, this high-precision device will see its production rate rise from 10,000 units annually today to 30,000 units by 2032. To support this scale-up, the industrial site will gain an additional 10,500 sqm (square meters), including 3,000 sqm of new cleanrooms equipped with the latest generation industrial machinery.
To meet rapidly growing demand, the expansion will be carried out in two phases: an initial 2,500-square-meter extension scheduled for 2027, followed by an additional 8,000 sqm extension by 2030. Already the leading industrial employer in the Allier region with over 1,640 employees, Safran Electronics & Defense is reinforcing its local presence with the creation of 500 new jobs by 2030 to support this growth.
Entirely developed and industrialized in Montluçon, this gyroscope is at the core of Safran Electronics & Defense’s inertial navigation systems. Designed from the outset for mass production with an extremely limited number of components, the HRG is built for integration into modular architectures. Today, it serves a broad range of needs from cost-effective, high-volume applications like munitions and drones, to advanced platforms including artillery, armored vehicles, military aircraft and helicopters, as well as ships, submarines, satellites, and space launchers. Its key advantage is its ability to provide absolute and ‘resilient’ navigation, remaining operational even in the most critical GPS-denied environments. Recently, demand for these sovereign technologies, including those used in the Hammer (modular air-to-ground weapon) has surged at an unprecedented rate.
“At Montluçon, we embody a unique level of technological and industrial excellence in the field of high-precision inertial systems,” said Franck Saudo, President of Safran Electronics & Defense. “The HRG, which is at the heart of our Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions, has redefined the market through its large-scale, industrially focused design. This investment will enable us to further solidify our unique position in the navigation domain, and to fulfill our primary commitment: delivering on time to the armed forces that protect France, Europe, and their allies.”
Built in 1934, the Montluçon factory is one of the Safran Group’s historic sites. Originally covering 37,000 sqm, it has undergone numerous transformations to reach 100,000 sqm today - including 6,000 sqm of cleanrooms - and will expand to 110,500 sqm upon completion of this project.
Safran (safran-group.com) 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 more than 110,000 employees and revenue of 31.3 billion euros in 2025, and holds, alone or in partnership, global or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes research and development programs to maintain the environmental priorities of its R&T and Innovation roadmaps.
Safran Electronics & Defense is a high-technology industrial company operating in the aerospace, defense, and space sectors. For over 100 years, the company has been designing, developing, and manufacturing equipment and services for both civil and military clients - on land, at sea, in the air and in space. A leader in its markets, Safran Electronics & Defense offers cutting-edge solutions in avionics, critical electronics, optronics, inertial navigation, precise timing, guidance, actuation, flight controls, satellite engines, and artificial intelligence for industry and defense. Our 19,000 employees across five continents are proud to support their customers, States and their armed forces, in strengthening their autonomy and sovereignty, and to contribute to the safety of air transport passengers.
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lucie.baton[.]safrangroup.com 
