Safran has successfully completed its $1.8 billion acquisition of Collins Aerospace’s flight control and actuation business. The integration strengthens Safran’s position in next-generation aerospace systems and marks a significant expansion of its operations in India.
The deal, approved by European regulators on the condition that Safran divests its North American electromechanical actuation business to Woodward, adds approximately 3,700 employees and USD 1.5 billion in annual revenues to Safran’s portfolio. It positions the company as a global leader in both mechanical/hydraulic and electromechanical actuation systems, crucial for the evolution of electric and hybrid aircraft platforms like the Boeing 777X and Airbus A321XLR.
With the integration of Collins’ actuation activities, India becomes a vital hub in Safran’s expanded global footprint. Safran will merge Collins India’s team with Safran Electronics and Defense India, further deepening the company’s capabilities in design, engineering, testing, and manufacturing.
“The combination brings together Collins Aerospace’s best-in-class hydraulic and mechanical actuators with Safran’s strengths in electrical actuation and electronics. This enables Safran to offer a comprehensive, end-to-end flight control and actuation product suite. We welcome Collins’ India team, which would merge with Safran Electronics and Defence India with effect from today,” stated Jetendra Gavankar, CEO & Country Head – Safran India.
Collins Aerospace India currently offers a range of solutions which will now bolster Safran’s global offerings, like Mechanical Actuators (Cargo latches, power drive units, motion control packs, motor drives), Electronic Flight Controls(Flight control systems, GCU, BPCU).
In his remarks during a visit to the Wolverhampton facility in the UK—now the head office for the newly formed Actuation Business Unit—Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, emphasized the human and strategic dimensions of the acquisition. “This is not just a strategic acquisition; it is the beginning of a shared journey. Together, we are building a unique technology portfolio with a clear ambition: to become the global leader in flight controls and actuation. This moment is not just about growth, it is about people, purpose and progress,” he said.
The acquisition not only adds two new countries—Italy and Indonesia—to Safran’s operational map, but also makes the UK its second-largest European base, employing over 5,000 people there.
The merger creates a hybrid actuation powerhouse, combining over 6,000 Collins actuators with Safran’s electric control systems. It is projected to deliver $50 million in annual cost synergies by 2028, driven by shared R&D and testing facilities in India and Poland.
Industry analysts see this as a major step toward a future where OEMs increasingly rely on single suppliers for integrated systems, rather than sourcing components piecemeal. While regulators have limited Safran’s actuator market share to 40% in Western markets, the company is now well-positioned for the next wave of aerospace innovation, particularly more-electric aircraft and diversified platforms.
Meanwhile, Collins Aerospace is accelrating its manufacturing presence in India. “Powered by production-linked incentives, a world-class ecosystem at the KIADB Aerospace SEZ Park and fast-tracked support, we look forward to accelerating Collins Aerospace’s manufacturing presence in India, home to over 7,500 RTX employees,” states Roy Gullickson, Vice President of Operations at Collins Aerospace.
Collins Aerospace currently has 2 manufacturing plants in Bengaluru – Bengaluru Operations Plant (Hoodi Site 1) and Collins India Operations Center at KIADB Aerospace Park (Site 4). The upcoming 800,000 sq.ft Collins India Operations Center located at KIADB Aerospace Park spans 26 acres across the Hitech Defense and Aerospace Park and will help Collins bring operational synergy and economies of scale, as well as support future growth opportunities and customer requirements. It will host some 1,700 employees at the new site once it is fully completed in 2026.
