For Sagem Défense Sécurité, this year’s Paris Air Show will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase its products and expertise as part of the new SAFRAN group.

What do you expect from the 2005 Paris Air Show?

We will be presenting our systems and services in four major business lines: modernization of avionics systems for military aircraft; UAVs, avionics for commercial airliners; and security, which includes biometrics, access control and flow control. We are aiming to present these activities within a unified vision of our business.

Are you planning to announce new contracts?

At the beginning of the week we signed a major collaboration agreement with Thales, concerning combat aircraft modernization. We will form a “French team”, focusing on export markets where a number of Mirage III, V and F1 aircraft are still in service. Another expected contract is for the navigation system on Europe’s A400M military transport.

What exactly does the A400M contract represent for the Defense Security branch?

We were already selected to supply the navigation systems on the NH90, one of the world’s best selling helicopters. Our participation in the A400M program not only involves a large volume of business, but is also a major turning point. This selection consolidates our position as the European leader in navigation systems for transport aircraft and helicopters. From the strategic viewpoint, it’s a very strong calling card to stake out a position in the civil aviation market.

The A380 is clearly one of the big stars at this show. What is the Defense Security branch’s contribution to this program?

In addition to supplying a range of conventional equipment (actuators, sensors, accelerometers, etc.), we are providing the aircraft information system, which is a major innovation. This system reflects our cross-disciplinary expertise in data transmission and analysis, information systems, secure networks and more. The new system supports data exchanges between the cabin, crew, passengers and airlines, making it a sort of onboard intranet that will bring information management on the A380 to a new plane. It’s also worth noting that the system was installed right from the first flight of the aircraft.

What would you say are the most visible signs of synergies between group companies at the air show?

Aircraft modernization programs, without a doubt. The Mirage V that we modernized, displayed on the Sagem Défense Sécurité stand, features a wide range of systems and equipment from SAFRAN, including engine, landing gear, ejection seat, etc. It’s synergy like this that shows we have the capabilities needed to jointly handle a number of projects.

There is also synergy in the equipment field, concerning the development of control and safety-related electronics, although this is not quite as visible today. Take for example the controls for the electric brakes on the Boeing 787, where we’re working alongside Messier-Bugatti. This will be a world first, and meeting this challenge is obviously one of our top priorities.