This article is based on an official press release from Safran Group.

Safran Expands Moroccan Footprint with €280 Million Landing Gear Facility

Safran Landing Systems has officially signed an agreement with the Moroccan government to construct a new manufacturing and maintenance facility in Nouaceur, near Casablanca. The signing ceremony, held on Friday, February 13, 2026, was presided over by King Mohammed VI, underscoring the strategic importance of the aerospace sector to the nation’s industrial roadmap.

According to the official press release from Safran Group, the new site represents an investment of approximately €280 million (over 3 billion MAD). The facility will focus primarily on the production, assembly, and maintenance of landing gear systems for the Airbus A320 family, the workhorse of the global narrow-body fleet. This expansion is expected to create 500 direct jobs, further solidifying Morocco’s position within the global aerospace supply chain.

The plant will be located in the Midparc Aerospace Industrial Zone, a specialized cluster that already hosts numerous international aviation companies. In alignment with Safran’s global sustainability goals, the company stated that the new facility will operate on 100% decarbonized energy.

Operational Capabilities and Strategic Focus

The new Nouaceur facility is designed to be one of Safran’s most significant landing gear production centers worldwide. It will integrate a comprehensive range of high-value industrial processes under one roof. These operations include the high-precision machining of landing gear components, the advanced assembly of complete systems, and dedicated maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

By localizing these capabilities, Safran aims to support the ramping production rates of the Airbus A320 while enhancing its service offerings for airline operators. The site will also feature on-site testing capabilities to ensure all components meet rigorous international aviation standards before delivery.

Ross McInnes, Chairman of Safran, highlighted the scale and ambition of the project during the announcement:

“This factory will be one of the largest in the world for landing gear and equipment. It will enable us to support the high production rates of the Airbus A320 and prepare for future generations of aircraft.”

Strengthening the Moroccan Aerospace Ecosystem

Safran has maintained a presence in Morocco for over 25 years, currently employing nearly 4,700 people across various subsidiaries and joint ventures. This new agreement follows closely on the heels of a separate major investment announced in October 2025, involving a maintenance facility for LEAP engines. However, the company clarified that this landing gear plant is a distinct project focused specifically on airframe systems rather than propulsion.

Ryad Mezzour, Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, emphasized that the project reflects the country’s growing technical maturity:

“This project demonstrates Morocco’s mastery of complex technologies and its successful integration into the global aerospace value chain. Thanks to the Royal Vision, Morocco has become a global aerospace platform over the last 20 years.”

AirPro News analysis

The decision to place a critical node of the A320 supply chain in Nouaceur reflects a broader industry trend toward “nearshoring” manufacturing closer to European final assembly lines. For Safran, expanding in Morocco offers a dual advantage: access to a skilled, cost-competitive workforce and significant logistical proximity to Airbus assembly facilities in Toulouse and Hamburg.

Furthermore, the inclusion of MRO capabilities at the new site suggests a long-term strategy to capture the aftermarket value of the growing fleet of aircraft operating in Africa and the Middle East. By combining production and maintenance, Safran reduces turnaround times and logistics costs, making the Midparc zone an increasingly vital hub for the EMEA region.

Sources

• Safran Group
• Reuters
• Morocco World News