Safran, the French multinational aerospace and defence company, has announced its acquisition of Preligens, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) firm, for €220 million.

Preligens, known for its AI-driven analytics solutions in aerospace and defence, will be rebranded as Safran.AI and integrated into Safran Electronics & Defense.

Founded in 2016 by engineers Arnaud Guérin and Renaud Allioux, Preligens has quickly established itself as a leader in the application of AI to geospatial data. The company develops advanced algorithms and software that automatically detect and identify military-relevant objects using satellite imagery. Preligens employs over 220 staff across its offices in Paris, Rennes, and Washington DC, making it one of the largest AI teams in the Western world focusing on high-end vision and acoustics.

Franck Saudo, chief executive officer of Safran Electronics & Defense, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “We’re delighted to welcome Preligens to the Group. By combining our strengths, we’re determined not only to support the development of Preligens’ AI solutions, but also to jointly open up entirely new areas of AI application in aviation, defence, and space.”

The acquisition marks a significant step in Safran's digital transformation strategy. Safran intends to leverage Preligens’ AI capabilities to enhance its offerings in surveillance and identification within the defence and space sectors. The company also plans to apply Preligens' AI solutions to Industry 4.0, including the use of AI-powered image analytics to assist in quality control processes by identifying anomalies in critical parts.

Jean-Yves Courtois, chief executive officer of Preligens, added: “Joining Safran marks a new stage in Preligens’ development. The many synergies with Safran will enable us to develop new AI product lines and accelerate our international expansion, which is excellent news for our business and our people.”

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