Safran Power Units to Double Texas Turbojet Engine Capacity

Safran Power Units announced on September 30, 2026, an investment to double the capacity of its Grand Prairie, Texas, facility, which produces turbojet engines for missiles and drones. The additional capacity will come onstream in 2028.

The expansion includes a new assembly line at the Texas site for the TR40 turbojet engine family, which equips the Naval Strike Missile and will be assembled at the facility. Safran described the investment as the latest chapter in its longstanding commitment to the U.S. defense sector and said it addresses surging demand for equipment including the TR40 family. The company did not disclose the amount of the investment.

Safran chief executive Olivier Andriès said the capacity increase demonstrates the group’s deep-rooted partnership with the United States and its dedication as a trusted supplier to the American defense sector. He said that investing in advanced technologies and local talent strengthens the resilience of critical supply chains. “Demand for our TR40 turbojet engine family has quadrupled in recent years and we see significant opportunities for future applications,” Andriès said. “By launching a new assembly line at our Texas site, we are meeting the accelerating demand of our strategic customers.”

The TR40 Engine Family

Safran describes the TR40 family as the benchmark turbojet engine in its class for anti-ship missile applications, an engine it says was specifically designed to meet the demanding requirements of that market. According to the company, its compactness and thrust-to-weight ratio give significant integration advantages. The TR40 has more than 20 years of commercial and operational success behind it and more than 1,200 units delivered worldwide, and it is Safran Power Units’ best-selling engine, the company said. Safran pointed to what it called the engine’s unrivaled reliability as confirmation of its status as a trusted solution for critical missions, and described the TR40 as the gold standard in tactical propulsion. The engine is produced at scale to equip new-generation high-performance munitions, according to Safran.

Texas Operations and U.S. Footprint

Safran Power Units says it brings 60 years of expertise in high-performance engines powering missiles in service with 17 armed forces, including the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and describes itself as a trusted, sovereign industrial partner for the U.S. defense sector. Based in Texas since 1989, the company already provides locally assembled engines for Kratos BQM-167 and BQM-177 aerial targets. It also equips the T-45 Goshawk jet trainer with its auxiliary power units.

Safran Power Units is a subsidiary of Safran Helicopter Engines and specializes in the design and manufacture of auxiliary power units and starting systems for civil and military aircraft, as well as turbojet engines for missiles and target drones. According to the group, Safran Helicopter Engines is the world’s leading helicopter engine manufacturer; it has produced more than 75,000 engines since its founding and counts more than 2,500 customers in 155 countries.

Across the wider group, Safran says it employs more than 11,000 people in the United States, spread across 71 sites in 25 states, and describes its industrial presence in the country as long-standing and growing. The company calls itself a strategic partner in both U.S. civil aerospace and defense, and says it serves as a key partner to every major U.S. airline, the leading aerospace prime contractors, and the U.S. government. It attributes its growth in the country to a commitment to skilled job creation, advanced manufacturing, innovation, and skills development.

Safran reports more than 110,000 employees worldwide and revenue of 31.3 billion euros in 2025. The international high-technology group operates in the aviation, defense, and space markets, with its aviation activities spanning propulsion, equipment, and interiors. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.

Safran said it is ready to expand its capacities in the United States further to support the increasing needs of the U.S. defense industry.