Safran Corporate Ventures has acquired a minority stake in French test specialist Akira Technologies, securing a key prototyping partner involved in the hybrid-electric development of the CFM International RISE demonstrator engine. The investment, announced on September 22, 2026, aims to scale the production capabilities of Akira for next-generation aerospace and defense Propulsion systems.

In a press release issued by Safran Group, the company confirmed the funding round also included participation from European missile Manufacturers MBDA and the Definvest fund, which is managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA). Founded in 2003 and based in Bayonne, Europe, Akira Technologies currently generates €13 million in annual revenue and employs 70 people. The capital injection will support the transition of the company from prototyping to small- and medium-batch production.

Advancing the CFM RISE program

Akira Technologies has served as a critical testing partner for Safran, specifically tasked with assessing the hybrid-electric layout of the CFM RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) demonstrator. The RISE program, a joint venture initiative between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines under CFM International, targets a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to current Commercial-Aircraft engines.

The investment aligns with the broader push by Safran into Electric-Aviation propulsion. In July 2026, Safran launched the PHILEAS full-scale hybrid-electric demonstrator test campaign in Istres, France, to evaluate power extraction and injection technologies. Securing a stake in Akira ensures Safran maintains close integration with a specialized partner capable of agile development for these megawatt-class hybrid powertrains.

Defense applications and industrial sovereignty

Beyond commercial aviation, the funding round highlights the growing role of Akira in the defense sector. The involvement of MBDA and the DGA-backed Definvest fund points to strategic interests in the development of Drones propulsion systems and microturbines by Akira.

Florent Illat, CEO of Safran Corporate Ventures, stated that the investment strengthens a longstanding relationship and secures expertise in design and agile prototyping necessary for future aviation and defense needs.

“For a company working in mechanical engineering and engines, receiving such a vote of confidence from Safran is recognition of the expertise and efficiency of the Akira team,” said Sylvain Loumé, Managing Director of Akira Technologies. “It also represents a further tangible commitment on our part to building a French industrial sector that combines technological excellence, sovereignty and competitiveness.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the minority stake taken by Safran in Akira Technologies as a strategic move to insulate its supply chain and secure specialized engineering talent during a critical phase of the CFM RISE program. As engine manufacturers push the boundaries of open-fan architectures and hybrid-electric integration, the bottleneck often lies in rapid prototyping and bespoke test rigs. By bringing a trusted vendor closer into the corporate fold, Safran mitigates the risk of losing the bandwidth of Akira to competing aerospace or defense projects. The co-investment by MBDA and the French government further underscores a national strategy to keep critical propulsion technology development within domestic borders.

Sources: Safran Group

The European Union surpassed its initial Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate in 2025, with SAF accounting for 2.79 percent of all jet fuel supplied to EU airports during the first mandatory reporting year.

According to the 2026 ReFuelEU Aviation Annual Technical Report published by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on September 17, 2026, fuel suppliers delivered 1.1 million tonnes of SAF against a total aviation fuel supply of 39.3 million tonnes. The 2.79 percent blend rate comfortably exceeded the 2 percent minimum required by the ReFuelEU regulation for 2025. This uptake resulted in an estimated reduction of 3.77 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are pleased to confirm that the SAF mandate under ReFuelEU Aviation was not only met but exceeded,” EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet stated in the agency’s press release.

Compliance and distribution across European hubs

The EASA report indicates high compliance rates across the sector. Ninety-three percent of aircraft operators and 90 percent of fuel suppliers fulfilled their reporting obligations in 2025. EASA noted that noncompliance among aircraft operators was primarily limited to small business jet operators, nonscheduled carriers, and third-country operators that failed to respond to competent authorities.

SAF distribution reached 121 Airports across all 27 Member States, representing 79 percent of all Union airports. Uptake was heavily concentrated at major European hubs. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) accounted for 29 percent of the tracked SAF supply, followed by Frankfurt Airport (FRA) at 8 percent and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) at 7 percent.

Supply chain dynamics and feedstock dependencies

While the headline blending figures demonstrate regulatory success, the technical report reveals a structural reliance on imported raw materials. Although 86 percent of the SAF supplied at EU airports was refined domestically within the European Union, 85 percent of the underlying feedstocks originated from outside the bloc.

The primary feedstock utilized was Used Cooking Oil (UCO) processed via the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway. Of the imported feedstocks, 61 percent originated from China, with additional volumes sourced from Malaysia and Indonesia. On the refining side, Neste’s Rotterdam facility alone produced 33 percent of all European SAF in 2025.

AirPro News analysis

The successful implementation of the 2 percent mandate in 2025 proves that the logistical framework for SAF distribution at major European hubs is functional. However, the heavy reliance on Asian Used Cooking Oil presents a long-term vulnerability for European aviation. As the ReFuelEU mandate scales to 6 percent in 2030, the Regulations will also introduce sub-mandates for synthetic aviation fuels (e-fuels). With approximately 50 synthetic fuel projects awaiting final investment decisions and no large-scale e-fuel facilities currently operational in Europe, we anticipate significant capital mobilization will be required over the next 36 months to prevent future supply bottlenecks and reduce dependency on imported biomass.

Sources: European Union Aviation Safety Agency

Vertical Aerospace officially opened its dedicated Aircraft Assembly Centre at Cotswold Airport on September 25, 2026, marking the company’s transition from prototype development to early-stage manufacturing. The facility will produce certification-conforming Valo electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as the manufacturers targets UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Type Certification in 2029.

In a press release issued to coincide with the United Kingdom’s National Manufacturing Day, Vertical Aerospace detailed a £1.5 million investment in the Kemble site. The opening follows a September 24, 2026, announcement that the company has initiated a review of strategic alternatives and appointed Jefferies as a financial advisor to support its next phase of development.

Facility capabilities and production timeline

The new Aircraft Assembly Centre adds 60,000 square feet of operational space, bringing Vertical Aerospace’s total footprint at Cotswold Airport to 130,000 square feet. The facility is designed to assemble up to 25 Valo aircraft annually during the early production phase.

Assembly of the first certification-conforming aircraft is expected to begin in Q4 2027. These aircraft will be used for compliance demonstration and verification testing with the UK CAA. Vertical Aerospace CEO Stuart Simpson stated that the facility provides the capability needed to assemble certification aircraft and support initial customer deliveries while maintaining capital discipline ahead of higher-volume production.

The company expects to announce plans for a separate, full-scale production facility for higher-volume manufacturing in Q4 2026.

Economic impact and defense applications

The facility opening drew attention from UK government and industry officials. Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall MP and Make UK Chief Executive Stephen Phipson highlighted the project’s alignment with national manufacturing goals.

“The opening of Vertical Aerospace’s new Aircraft Assembly Centre at Kemble is exactly the kind of investment we want to see more of as we work to reindustrialise Britain, creating high-skilled local jobs and strengthening our manufacturing base,” McDougall said in the company’s release.

Independent analysis by Frontier Economics projects that Vertical Aerospace could anchor 2,000 high-value jobs and contribute an estimated £3 billion annually to the UK economy by 2035.

Beyond commercial passenger applications, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed interest in the manufacturer’s hybrid-electric and autonomous capabilities. Vertical Aerospace plans to retrofit a prototype aircraft for hybrid-electric flight testing in H1 2027 to support these defense evaluations.

AirPro News analysis

The back-to-back announcements on September 24 and September 25 highlight the dual tracks eVTOL developers must navigate: advancing physical industrialization while securing the capital required to reach certification. Opening the Aircraft Assembly Centre demonstrates tangible progress toward the 2029 CAA certification target and provides a dedicated space for the rigorous compliance testing required for passenger operations.

However, the concurrent strategic review and appointment of Jefferies indicate that we are entering a critical capitalization phase for the sector. Transitioning from prototype assembly to a planned capacity of 25 aircraft annually requires significant resources. The stated strategy of maintaining capital discipline at the Cotswold facility while deferring the announcement of a larger, full-scale production site until Q4 2026 suggests a phased approach to scaling that aligns with the realities of current aerospace investments markets.

Sources: Vertical Aerospace