Chapo (about 20 words): A quiet shift is reshaping commercial aviation-far from cabin windows and jet noise-inside discreet, humming electrical bays.
Behind the scenes of the newest jets, a new kind of industrial race is accelerating, and Safran’s latest bet in Singapore targets it directly.
The new “watchmaker” of electric aviation in Seletar
Safran has opened a new electrical systems plant and MRO hub in Singapore’s Seletar Aerospace Park, and the timing could not be better. Airlines across Asia-Pacific are renewing fleets at breakneck speed, regulators are pushing greener operations, and each new aircraft generation requires more electrical power in place of older pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
Inside the facility, about seventy specialists will assemble and repair power converters, power distribution systems, and onboard batteries. Passengers never see these boxes and they carry no airline branding, yet they keep aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, and regional ATRs running electrically-from cockpit avionics to cabin systems.
Safran is quietly building the “electric nervous system” of tomorrow’s aircraft: converters, power distribution units, and advanced batteries integrated into every major platform.
The facility has already received regulatory approval from Singapore’s CAAS, Europe’s EASA, and the U.S. FAA. This triple certification means the plant can service equipment for global fleets, not only aircraft registered in Asia. For airlines, it reduces downtime. For Safran, it secures a foothold in a region expected to drive a large share of future demand.
A strategic foothold in Asia’s fastest-growing aviation market
Why Singapore makes sense for a €95 billion race
Choosing Singapore is less about symbolism and more about speed and access. Asia-Pacific is the world’s fastest-growing air transport market, driven by expanding middle classes, regional tourism, and low-cost carriers extending their networks. Fleet growth and heavy maintenance visits are now stacking up across planning systems in India, Southeast Asia, and China.
By establishing an electrical systems hub in Seletar, Safran positions itself within a few flight hours of key customers such as Singapore Airlines, Air China, Japan Airlines, and many regional operators. Repair turnaround times shrink, logistics risks drop, and engineering teams can coordinate directly with local MRO centers instead of shipping parts back to Europe or North America.
In aviation services, the winner is rarely the cheapest supplier; it is often the one physically closest to the aircraft when a fault occurs.
Local authorities add another advantage. Singapore offers political stability, strong infrastructure, and a long-standing pro-aerospace policy environment with clear tax and training programs. During the inauguration, Safran executives emphasized that these conditions-combined with a skilled workforce-reduce the risk of long-term industrial investment in ways few regional locations can match.
Integrating former Thales activities and tightening the group’s grip
The Seletar site also takes in electrical activities transferred from Thales in 2023, bringing them into Safran Electrical & Power. Strategically, this matters: rather than a fragmented supply chain where multiple French firms each handle part of the electrical system, Safran is consolidating design, industrialization, and aftermarket support under one roof.
That scale helps in several ways: stronger purchasing power for components, shared testing standards, common digital tools, and a single interface for airframers seeking “more-electric” architectures on future platforms. It also anchors Safran more firmly in future program decisions at Airbus and other manufacturers that increasingly want integrated systems instead of scattered subsystems.
A France–Singapore partnership with deep roots
From bilateral agreements to real hardware on the ground
The new plant also reflects deepening institutional ties between France and Singapore in aviation. A cooperation agreement signed in May 2025 between CAAS and the French DGAC established common approaches to certification, safety oversight, and technical guidance. The Seletar facility turns that diplomatic framework into equipment, jobs, and recurring service contracts.
Singapore gains access to decades of French expertise in high-reliability electrical systems. France, through Safran, strengthens its position in a region shaping global air traffic growth. Over time, Singapore’s ambition to host a complete, self-sustaining aerospace ecosystem becomes more credible: engines, landing gear, avionics, cabin systems, and now high-end power electronics and batteries are all located within a short drive of Changi.
Four decades of learning the local playbook
Safran is not new to Asia. The group has been present in Singapore for more than 45 years, employing about 900 people across five sites. Local teams already overhaul landing gear, emergency evacuation slides, embedded electronics, and helicopter engines.
The new electrical facility plugs into that network rather than standing alone. Shared logistics, common HR pipelines, and cross-training between sites reduce ramp-up risk. For customers, Singapore looks less like a simple maintenance outpost and more like a regional center of expertise where multiple systems can be serviced in a single stop.
Electric aircraft: from concept hype to a €95 billion market
The numbers behind the shift
Analyst forecasts suggest the global electric aircraft market will grow from about €19.6 billion in 2024 to nearly €94.8 billion by 2035, driven by a compound annual growth rate of roughly 15.4%. This includes fully electric aircraft, hybrid-electric concepts, and the rapidly expanding eVTOL segment for urban air mobility.
| Indicator | Value / trend |
|---|---|
| Market size 2024 | €19.62 billion |
| Market size 2025 | €22.64 billion |
| Forecast 2035 | €94.82 billion |
| Average CAGR 2025–2035 | 15.4% |
| Current dominant tech | Hybrid-electric aircraft, with rapid growth in fully electric |
| Leading region today | North America |
| Fastest-growing region | Asia-Pacific |
| Main applications | Commercial, military, urban air mobility (eVTOL) |
| Representative players | Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Joby, Lilium, Eviation, Vertical Aerospace, magniX, Ampaire, Pipistrel |
Battery technology sits at the center of this acceleration. Improvements in energy density and charging speed are enabling ranges and payloads that would have seemed unrealistic a decade ago. The pattern is familiar: like early smartphones, each generation unlocks new use cases-from short-hop trainers to commuter aircraft and, eventually, hybrid-assisted regional jets.
The trajectory points toward aircraft where the jet engine no longer works alone, but shares the load with high-power electrical machines and smart batteries.
Safran’s multi-front push into electrical power
Safran already leads the narrowbody engine market through CFM International and its LEAP family. At the same time, it is investing heavily in electric propulsion and power systems. Programs such as the ENGINeUS family of electric motors, next-generation aviation batteries, and high-efficiency power electronics frame that transition.
Current projects include:
- Development of compact aviation batteries in France and North America for hybrid and regional aircraft.
- High-efficiency converters and distribution units for “more-electric aircraft” architectures on next-generation single-aisle and regional platforms.
- Reinforced electrical modules for military aircraft, where power quality and resilience under stress are critical.
- Expanded engine and systems MRO capabilities in Asia, supporting civil and defense fleets moving toward higher electrical loads.
The new Singapore site sits at the crossroads of these efforts. It can test, assemble, and maintain the kinds of modules future hybrid-electric and eVTOL aircraft will require as standard equipment-particularly in a region where urban air mobility trials are accelerating.
What this means for airlines, regulators, and rivals
Operational gains-and new constraints-for airlines
For airlines, more onboard electricity can mean fewer mechanical and pneumatic components, typically reducing fuel burn and failure rates. It also supports flexible cabin upgrades, richer connectivity, and eventually electric taxiing or partial electric climb to reduce emissions and noise around airports.
However, this shift increases dependence on high-reliability power electronics. A failure in a major converter can affect multiple systems at once. That reality pushes carriers to seek partners that can guarantee fast repair cycles, ample spares, and strong digital monitoring. A certified electrical hub in Singapore directly addresses that need for Asia-Pacific operators.
Pressure on competitors and the supply chain
Safran’s move also raises the bar for competitors in electrical systems, from U.S. giants to smaller European suppliers. Concentrating certification, industrial expertise, and regional support in one site gives the French group leverage when negotiating with airframers on future platforms. It can offer integrated packages-engines, nacelles, power electronics, and maintenance contracts aligned from day one.
For second-tier suppliers, the risk is being excluded from these integrated deals if they cannot match the footprint or reliability data. Some may respond by forming alliances or specializing in niche areas such as high-voltage cabling, thermal management, or software controls.
Key technical and strategic angles to watch next
Battery breakthroughs, grid pressure, and safety rules
Three areas will shape how far and how fast the €95 billion electric aircraft market grows over the next decade:
- Battery chemistry and life cycle: Progress in solid-state cells, thermal management, and recycling will affect both aircraft design and infrastructure costs.
- Airport power supply: Fast charging for fleets of eVTOLs or hybrid aircraft could strain local grids, forcing airports to add storage or on-site generation.
- Certification of high-voltage systems: Regulators must adapt rules for megawatt-class electrical architectures while keeping safety levels consistent with today’s jet standards.
These challenges create both risk and opportunity for Safran. A major safety incident involving an electric power system could slow adoption, while a strong record in reliability and fire protection would strengthen Safran’s position as a trusted reference supplier for regulators.
For investors and industry insiders, the new Singapore plant is a concrete signal: electric aviation is no longer confined to slide decks and prototypes. The supply chain is hardening into real investments, real headcount, and real capacity-often the phase that precedes rapid market movement from promise to volume orders.
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