Safran Electronics & Defense is said to be taking a major step forward in its inertial navigation strategy by grouping two subsidiaries, Safran Colibrys (Switzerland) and newly acquired Sensonor (Norway) under a single banner, Safran Sensing Technologies.

The group, which develops and builds aircraft landing systems at Staverton in Gloucestershire, said similarities in expertise, market position, customers and technologies will result in a clear process of synergy between these two companies, renowned worldwide for the quality and precision of their accelerometers, gyrometers and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) MEMS-based.

It added that the creation of Safran Sensing Technologies illustrates its commitment to developing its micro-sensor business through these two companies.

The ambition is to jointly offer an ever wider, more coherent, innovative and comprehensive range of inertial technologies (vibrating sensors, optics, MEMS) for all types of applications in aeronautics, defense, new space, new mobilities, industry, etc.

Safran said the strategy will contribute to preserve the independence and industrial control of these predominantly electronic technologies in Europe.

The two subsidiaries have already delivered more than 20 million MEMS sensors to the aeronautics, defense, space, transport, new mobility, industry sectors. 

MEMS are found in the control accelerometers of the very first airbags, in the high temperature accelerometers for guiding drill heads or in seismic sensors measuring the structural health of buildings or civil engineering works, and finally in inertial measurement units for civil, military and space vehicles.

Martin Sion, CEO of Safran Electronics & Defense, said: "In this increasingly competitive market constantly being renewed. Our objective is to strengthen the consistency and complementarity of our offer to develop new applications by relying on our extensive expertise in the fields of MEMS and electronics."

The two entities have been renamed Safran Sensing Technologies Norway AS and Safran Sensing Technologies Switzerland SA, respectively.