Safran and Pen Aviation Sign a Partnership, Marking 1st Export Success for New Compact Optronic Systems

Pen Aviation, a leading drone systems developer both in France and in Asia, and Safran Electronics & Defense are pleased to announce the signing of an addendum to their partnership, building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) initially signed in 2024, which laid the foundation for a strategic collaboration to advance the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) sector.

This new agreement expands the scope of cooperation between the two companies to include Safran’s new line of compact airborne electro-optical systems (EOS), with Pen Aviation committing to become the launch customer for these lightweight systems, complementing the legacy EuroflirTM 410.

Pen Aviation, based in France and Malaysia, is a key player in the regional drone ecosystem, developing a comprehensive family of UAVs ranging from 20 kg to 1,360 kg. Building on the successful collaboration around the Euroflir™ 410, the addendum formalizes Pen Aviation’s interest in equipping its platforms with Safran’s new generation of small-size, high-performance optronic systems.

This agreement is an important step for Safran Electronics & Defense, creating new opportunities in the fast-growing drone market and strengthening its role as a reliable partner for advanced surveillance solutions.

“Innovation has always been at the heart of our strategy, driving us to embrace and integrate cutting-edge technologies that support operational excellence and sovereignty. With this agreement, we are enhancing our ability to meet new needs and seize opportunities in the fast-growing drone market, while reinforcing our position as a trusted partner for advanced surveillance solutions”, said Alexandre Ziegler, Executive Vice President, Defense Division of Safran Electronics & Defense.

“This advancement significantly expands our capability to deliver mission-ready solutions across our UAV fleet portfolio. By integrating Safran’s new compact electro-optical system (EOS), we can now outfit lighter UAVs without sacrificing performance. This gives our customers greater mission flexibility, reduced additional payload limitations, and improved effectiveness in challenging environments. Whether in logistics, surveillance, search and rescue, or other high-demand operations, this capability allows us to respond to evolving mission requirements with greater agility and lower risk, while continuing to uphold the reliability and technical excellence that define both Pen Aviation and Safran” said Jean Bernard Boura, Managing Director at Pen Aviation and President of Pen Group, Pen Aviation’s holding company. 

With this partnership, Pen Aviation confirms its commitment to integrating best-in-class technologies into its UAV platforms, while Safran Electronics & Defense takes a decisive step toward expanding its footprint in Asia, supporting both innovation and sovereignty.