Safran Selected to Create Innovative Ground Robots for France’s Military
Safran Electronics & Defense has secured a significant contract with the French defense procurement agency, DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement), for its Science & Technology initiative, named Furious. Spanning five years, this initiative aims to establish the foundational framework for the integration of ground robots within the French armed forces, aligning with the Scorpion modernization strategy.
In fulfilling this contract, Safran will collaborate with academic institutions as well as leverage the agility of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This approach epitomizes the DGA’s strategy of fostering innovative collaborations between primary contractors, research establishments, SMEs, and startups. Safran Electronics & Defense has capitalized on the close relationship between robotics and drone technologies to address the demands of this initial design endeavor.
The company’s primary areas of specialization—navigation, electro-optical systems (optronics), and safety-critical onboard electronics—form the essential components in both robotic and drone systems. The DGA’s Furious project will focus on creating three robot prototypes, each varying in size and designed for distinct mission profiles across diverse environments (such as building exploration and load carrying for infantry troops). These prototypes will be utilized by an infantry platoon and assessed in various configurations.
The most substantial of the three robots is the eRider autonomous vehicle, developed by Safran Electronics & Defense in collaboration with Valeo and PSA. Since 2013, Safran has partnered with civilian sectors, harnessing their technologies and tailoring them to meet the specific needs of military operations. With a strict timeline (18 months for the initial phase), Safran Electronics & Defense is leveraging its experience with the Patroller Cluster and partnering with driven SMEs such as Effidence, Technical Studio, Sominex, Kompai, and 4D Virtualiz.
Moreover, Safran has established collaborations with France’s premier robotics laboratories, including CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research), Pascal Institute, IRSTEA, Mines de Paris engineering school, and LORIA. Another entity involved in this program is the “augmented soldier” chair, which was inaugurated in 2017 at the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan.
