Snecma S.A. is a French multinational aircraft and rocket engine manufacturer
headquartered in Courcouronnes, France. Alone or in partnership, Snecma designs,
develops, produces and markets engines for civil and military aircraft, launch
vehicles and satellites. The company also offers a complete range of engine
support services to airlines, armed forces and other operators. Snecma is a
subsidiary of Safran. Name
Snecma used to be an acronym for Société nationale d'études et de construction de
moteurs d'aviation until 27 April 2004. History
Snecma was formed in 1945 with German BMW jet engine technology when the large
French aero engine firm Gnome & Rhône was nationalised.
= 1960s= In 1961, Snecma and Bristol Siddeley
agreed to a joint venture to produce the power plant for the Concorde, which
would become the Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593. the main body of the engine
came from the Bristol Olympus with the refinements being the addition of the
variable intakes necessary for supersonic flight.
In 1968, Snecma took control of Hispano-Suiza, Socata and Bugatti.
Snecma valued Bugatti's automobile background. In a subsequent
reorganisation, all aero-engine maintenance services would be grouped as
Sochata-Snecma. = 1970s and 1980s=
In 1970, Messier and Snecma agreed to merge their landing gear businesses. The
following year, Messier-Hispano was formed in which Snecma held a stake.
Snecma took full control of Messier-Hispano in 1973.
In 1977, the landing gear business was further consolidated by the creation of
Messier-Hispano-Bugatti. Snecma and General Electric created a
joint venture in 1974, CFM International, beginning a long term
relationship which continues today. Testing of FADEC, a joint development of
the two companies, began in 1985. = 1990s=
In 1990, Snecma announced its participation in the General Electric
GE90 engine programme. Messier-Dowty was formed in 1994
following the merger of the landing gear businesses of Snecma and the British TI
Group. In 1997 Snecma acquired 100 per cent of
Société européenne de propulsion. In 1998, Snecma took full control of
Messier-Dowty. In 1999, Snecma Services was created to
consolidate all maintenance, repair and overhaul operations.
In 2000, Snecma became a holding company and the propulsion business was reformed
as Snecma Moteurs. Later in the year Snecma acquired Labinal, along with its
Turbomeca and Microturbo subsidiaries. In 2001, Hurel-Hispano was created to
consolidate the group's engine nacelle and thrust reverser businesses.
In 2005, Snecma merged with Sagem to form SAFRAN. Snecma was divided, with
the company's subsidiaries contributing to the propulsion and equipment
divisions of the new group. Snecma moteurs was then renamed Snecma.
Products The company's major civil aircraft
engine is the CFM International CFM56. Produced by a partnership between Snecma
and General Electric, CFM56s power more than 4,900 aircraft around the world.
Snecma is also the main partner for the General Electric CF6-80 and GE90
programs. Snecma recently increased its presence in the high-thrust turbofan
segment by joining the Engine Alliance GP7000 program managed by the Engine
Alliance, a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric and Pratt & Whitney.
This engine is one of two options available to power the Airbus A380.
The company has entered into the PowerJet partnership with NPO Saturn of
Russia to provide SaM146 engines for the Sukhoi Superjet 100.
= Aircraft= SNECMA Coleoptere
= Commercial engines= CFM International CFM56
CFM International LEAP PowerJet SaM146
General Electric GE90 General Electric CF6
Engine Alliance GP7000 Snecma Silvercrest
5,000 shp turboprop for 70–90 seater regional airliners
= Military engines= SNECMA Atar
SNECMA M53 SNECMA M88
EuroProp TP400-D6 SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac
= Space engines= Viking
HM7B PPS-1350
Vinci Vulcain
Sites Courcouronnes: Headquarters
Évry-Corbeil Gennevilliers
Istres Guiana Space Centre
Le Creusot Vernon
Melun Villaroche Aerodrome Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
Châtellerault References
Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines, 5th Edition. Phoenix Mill,
Gloucestershire, England, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7509-4479-X.
External links Snecma official website
= Video clips= Snecma YouTube channel