French SAFRAN HQ
Introduction
Last week at the Paris Air Show, Franck Saudo, the CEO of Safran Electronics & Defence, talked to Defence News about how the battlefield is evolving, the usage of AI, and where the company sees future growth. Safran is the largest supplier of military optronics and inertial navigation systems in Europe.
Saudo discusses two significant developments in defense. The first is that defense funds are going up and there is a new focus on European sovereignty. The second is that the battlefield is changing, with more transparency, electronic warfare, and new technologies like drones.
In Syria, “we really saw a GNSS-denied environment and a contested electromagnetic spectrum for communication or GPS access.” In Nagorno-Karabakh, “there were many drones.” I believe that Ukraine embodies the amalgamation of these two conflicts, along with the resurgence of the attrition battle, a phenomenon unique to Ukraine.
One part of the change is “definite transparency on the battlefield,” which is made possible by sensors on the ground, in the air, and in space, as well as open-source data from social networks.
This represents a shift in the need for defense. The battlefield has undergone significant changes, leading to the emergence of new developments. One example of this change is drones, which are unmanned aerial vehicles that linger in the air. They need a new balance between technology, needs, and cost-effectiveness.
CCA Collaborative Combat Aircraft
“Does this mean that giant programs are out of the question? No way. Refer to the CCA Collaborative Combat Aircraft and the U.S. NGAD Next-Generation Air Dominance. Refer to the Golden Dome. We’re not saying massive recording programs are out of the question. What we are saying is that there has been an evolution in defense demand.
The changing battlefield calls for a stronger defense of current assets, like tanks, combat vehicles, and frigates. For instance, we can achieve this by incorporating counter-UAS capabilities.
Saudo discussed frigates in the Red Sea that were shooting missiles at Houthi drones: “It worked, but it wasn’t cost-effective.” Safran gave the French frigates a Paseo XLR electro-optical sensor that lets them see drone threats 40 kilometers away.
The sensor lets them spot threats early and lets them use their 76 mm cannon instead of a missile, which is cheaper.
Therefore, strengthening the protection of existing elements is essential. Moreover, building both capacity and mass remains a top priority.
In addition, developing what I call a “new defense” is crucial. Specifically, this refers to systems that balance technological advancements, operational needs, and cost-effectiveness by making various trade-offs. This changes the demand for defenses.
About changes on the supply side
“We also see a change on the supply side, with new players, whether they are startups or established businesses. To compete in the new defense arena, you need to be flexible, innovative, and able to do incremental innovation.”
Safran took four weeks to put PASEO XRL on the French frigates. It took six months to create its Skyjacker counter-UAS system, which uses GNSS spoofing. It took four months to put the AASM Hammer precision-guided munition on Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-25 planes in Ukraine.” Indeed, today’s needs demand agility and innovation.
“When I talk about new defenses, agility, and innovation, I also mean that market players need to take risks.” Saudo claimed that Safran has self-financing items, including drones, loitering bombs, and infrared binoculars. He also said that recording programs would continue.
“You need to be able to invest money in the current situation.” The defense market is changing quickly, and it is on the move. It’s about technology and business: new technology, flexibility, and the ability of an industry to increase production.
In defense of Data and AI
AI Branch
The company’s AI branch has 250 employees, which is “the biggest defense and security pool of AI professionals in Europe for production AI.” Many people are discussing the development and study of AI. Safran doesn’t have anything to do with this. Artificial Intelligence.
It Artificial intelligence is currently in production and serves as the core of real-world missions that have undergone verification in combat. These missions have been verified in combat. These tasks have undergone verification in combat. These are missions that have undergone verification in combat.
These missions have undergone verification in combat. These are missions that have undergone verification in combat. These are missions that have undergone verification in combat.
In September, Safran bought Preligens, which is now Safran. AI uses it to look at pictures, videos, and sound waves to find things that are important to the military. Saudo added that many armed forces around the world use Safran’s AI technologies to watch and find things.
Safran’s AI solutions
“What we stand for is an open architecture, which means that Safran’s AI solutions can work with any sensors and store data from different sensors.” Safran makes equipment, so our DNA is at the equipment level, and we’re open to working with all the different players.
“We are really where the mission needs us to be.” Some of it is edge AI, so we already have edge AI solutions for full-motion video. According to Saudo, the company’s Euroflir 410 electro-optical system or a PASEO sight can usually employ edge AI to process data.
“It also serves as a data hub on the battlefield, which is the second aspect of its functionality.” It can be aboard a frigate, where it brings together different data sources, or on the battlefield, where it brings together diverse sensors.
“Safran is just a military tool; they decide where the data goes, as it can flow in many directions.” You can have short loops and lengthy loops, and they can be at different levels of analysis.
Conclusion
“What we’ve learned from Ukraine is how important it is to make decisions in a decentralized manner.” If the military spreads out the action, it needs to focus on different levels of data and figure out what it means. We hold the belief that a uniform approach is insufficient, as it necessitates the transfer of all data from the battlefield to a satellite, followed by another satellite, and ultimately to a sizable central hub.
“It’s up to the tacticians to choose how they work. We only provide options to the armed forces because our AI architectures are open, allowing for both Edge AI and an embarked data center. Technology lets them decentralize whenever they want.
Saudo thinks that intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance are areas where they may grow. For Safran, the AI-enhanced ISTAR core sits at the intersection of electro-optical and AI technologies.
Another area of expansion focuses on ensuring reliable position, navigation, and timing. “How do you make sure that your munitions, vehicles, and other high-value assets are safe from spoofing and jamming because of the combination of inertial navigation, GNSS, and other technologies?”
Safran makes the Lanner 50-kilogram drone and the Warbler loitering munition, which are both examples of precision-guided munitions. Other areas of expansion include the Hammer air-launched weapon and missile seekers, as well as drones and loitering munitions.
“I would add AI solutions as a separate category because we both embed our AI solutions, edge AI, and embarked data hub, and we also offer the Safran.” Integrators can use OpenAI architectures as building blocks in their software suites.
References
- Safran Official Website – Defence
- Defence News—Interview with Safran CEO Franck Saudo
- Preligens—Now Part of Safran
- Paris Air Show 2025 Coverage
- European Defence Agency – Emerging Technologies
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