Snecmas

Snecma, acronym for Société Nationale d'Étude et de Construction des Moteurs d'Aéronefs, was a French aerospace engine manufacturer formed in the mid-20th century as the national champion of the French propulsion industry. It developed and produced a broad range of propulsion systems for civil and military aircraft and contributed to international collaborations, playing a central role in France's aviation engineering sector for decades.

The company was known for its work across commercial and military engines and for participating in joint ventures that extended its reach. Notable programs included its involvement in the CFM International partnership with General Electric, which produced the CFM56 family of turbofan engines widely used on commercial airliners, as well as later developments in the same lineage. Snecma also developed military engines such as the M88 for the Dassault Rafale and contributed to European turboprop and other propulsion projects, including engines used on large transport aircraft.

In 2005, Snecma merged with SAGEM to form Safran, with Snecma’s propulsion activities continuing under the Safran umbrella and the brand increasingly associated with Safran Aircraft Engines. Since the merger, Snecma’s legacy framework and engineering expertise have remained a core part of Safran’s propulsion strategy, contributing to ongoing development of commercial, military, and space-launch propulsion technologies. Safran, as a whole, remains a leading supplier of aircraft propulsion, systems, and related services, continuing the historical influence of Snecma in European aerospace engineering.