en.Wedoany.com Reported - Safran Electronics & Defense is investing €120 million to expand and modernize its plant in Montluçon, France, with the goal of tripling the production capacity of hemispherical resonator gyroscopes (HRGs). These high-precision devices, hailed as the world's most advanced inertial sensors, will see annual output rise from the current 10,000 units to 30,000 units by 2032.

To support scaled production, the facility will add 10,500 square meters of space, including a 3,000-square-meter new cleanroom equipped with the latest generation of industrial equipment. The expansion will proceed in two phases: the first phase will add 2,500 square meters by 2027, and the second phase will add an additional 8,000 square meters by 2030. Safran Electronics & Defense is currently the largest industrial employer in the Allier department, with over 1,640 employees. This expansion plan aims to create 500 new jobs by 2030, further strengthening its local presence.

Fully developed and industrialized in Montluçon, this gyroscope is a core component of Safran Electronics & Defense's inertial navigation systems. Designed from the outset for mass production, the HRG features a minimal number of parts and is suitable for integration into modular architectures. Its applications span a wide range, from cost-sensitive, high-volume munitions and drones to advanced platforms including artillery, armored vehicles, military aircraft, helicopters, as well as ships, submarines, satellites, and launch vehicles.

A key advantage is its ability to provide absolute and "resilient" navigation, maintaining operation even in the most severe GPS-denied environments. Recently, demand for such autonomous technologies has grown rapidly, including for use in the AASM Hammer modular air-to-ground weapon.

Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Electronics & Defense, stated that the Montluçon plant embodies a unique level of technical and industrial excellence in the field of high-precision inertial systems. The HRG, at the heart of the company's Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions, has redefined the market through its design for mass industrialization. This investment will consolidate the company's unique position in navigation and fulfill its primary commitment to deliver on time to the armed forces defending France, Europe, and their allies.

Founded in 1934, the Montluçon plant is one of Safran's oldest facilities. Its footprint, initially 37,000 square meters, has been transformed to 100,000 square meters (including 6,000 square meters of cleanrooms). Upon project completion, the total area will increase to 110,500 square meters.

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