Babcock and Safran MOU may include deployment of tactical UAVs, JTAC training equipment

One of Babcock's Aero L-39C jets for delivering adversary air, JTAC, and other training, displayed at the Paris Air Show 2025. (Janes/Tom Barton)

The UK's Babcock International Group and France's Safran Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to increase collaboration on defence programmes from aircraft engines and space systems to tactical and strategic communications.

Babcock and Safran have long co-operated on projects, but as Pierre Basquin, CEO Babcock International France, told Janes, “it was largely done on a case-by-case basis. We'd like to broaden that co-operation further.

“We already have quite an established relationship with Safran. Babcock operates a couple of hundred of helicopters and aircraft around the world. Maybe not half of the fleet, but a big proportion of the fleet is using Safran engines.”

Examples of the types of programmes the agreement could aid include Babcock's contract to ensure high availability of France's fleet of Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters. “They all run on a Safran engine,” said Basquin. The companies have also co-operated to integrate emergency flotation systems on the helicopters.

Babcock helped adapt the Airbus H160 helicopters supplied to the French Navy from a civilian to a light military role, fitting them with Safran's Euroflir 410 electro-optical multisensor turret.

Babcock has acquired Aero L-39C tactical training aircraft that it hopes to start using with the French air force soon, adding specialist equipment including cameras to deliver joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) training. “Safran could be a good partner in providing that equipment,” Basquin added.

Babcock is working on supporting the deployment of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) made by Safran to an unspecified client country, he said.