Woodward to acquire Safran electromechanical actuation business
December 30, 2024
Aerospace and energy control system solutions company Woodward is to acquire Safran Electronics & Defense’s electromechanical actuation business, with the transaction expected to close in mid-2025.
A key product within the acquisition – encompassing broader intellectual property, operations assets and staff – includes long-term customer agreements for Horizontal Stabiliser Trim Actuation (HSTA), notably used for the Airbus A350. Woodward described this “the most advanced electromechanical control technology in aviation”.
Woodward CEO Chip Blakenship commented that the business acquisition would “increase [Woodward’s] shipset content for current widebody programmes and [expand its] industry-proven technology platform for next generation single aisle aircraft,” concluding it to be “an excellent fit for Woodward’s complementary activities”.
Safran Electronics and Defense CEO Franck Saudo confirmed that the business unit’s divestment was the right move for his company – highlighting a current focus on “accelerated value creation and the preparation of the next generation of aircraft”.
Safran had previously expanded its market position within the sector in February 2019, finalising the acquisition of the ElectroMechanical Systems business from Collins Aerospace; previously a part of Rockwell Collins.
In July 2023, Safran announced it was to also acquire Collins Aerospace’s actuation and flight control activities – with the transaction expected to create around $50 million of annual pre=tax run-rate cost synergies, progressively implemented from 2025 to 2028. The deal was expected to close in H2 2024.
However, in November 2023, the Italian government vetoed the takeover of Collins Aerospace’s Italian subsidiary Microtecnica, with Italian government sources concerned it would not preserve production lines in Italy. The reservation was reversed in June 2024, when Safran received authorisation from the Italian government for the sale of Microtecnica.
