Safran group of France to participate in Aero India in a big way

Bangalore, Jan 25 (uni) French aviation group safran will have a major presence at the aero india 2007 beginning here on february seven exhibiting its aviation wares besides components with the main exhibit being the shakti engine jointly developed by group company turbomeca with hindustan aeronautics limited (hal).

Shakti engine was being currently fitted to the Dhruv advanced light helicopter with the flight test likely to be held later this year.

Led by group ceo Jean Paul Bechat, safaran group of companies would also display a new generation engine sam 146 developed by snecma for the sukhoi superjet 100 regional aircraft.

Besides snecma and turbomeca other participating companies of the group were techspaceaero, sagem defense securite, microturbo and messier bugatti.

While microturbo woult display the tri 60 engine powering the lakshya target aircraft, sagem would have its tactival unmanned air vehicle 'sperwer' as its main product. Sperwer was currently being oeprated in afghanistan.

On the eve of his visit, mr bechat in a release said that the group had been actively involved in india during the last two years and had entered into a number of agreements with both defence and civilian aircraft industry. The company recently signed a mou with indianm for maintenance, repair and overhaul services, apart from supply of its cfm 56 engines to leading commercial airlines.

He said aero india was on par with any other international air show and would definitely provide business opportunities.

UNI