Safran is negotiating to fully acquire Preligens, a geospatial company focused on artificial intelligence for defense and aerospace, for $236.2 million.
Established in 2016, the Paris-based Preligens generated $30 million in sales in 2023. The company has about 220 employees, with 140 engineers assigned to research and development.
Its product portfolio delivers high-end imagery, video and acoustic signals through field-tested AI analytics solutions. The algorithms and software that the company develops are designed for automatic analysis, detection and identification of military interest objects based on commercial and government satellite images.
Safran CEO Olivier Andries sees the planned acquisition as helping optimize the company’s market responsiveness and efficiency by hastening its AI integration.
“With multiple applications, it will represent a step change for our defense and space technology businesses and will also allow us to deploy AI-enabled digital inspection methods to support our focus on flight safety and quality,” he said.
According to the French aerospace and defense company, the acquisition will also present an opportunity to harness its global presence and strengthen Preligens’ international development, particularly in the U.S. market.
Preligens CEO Jean-Yves Courtois conveyed his company’s excitement at possibly expanding its U.S. footprint.
“The proposed acquisition will open a new chapter in Preligens’ success story, with more opportunities for our employees to learn, grow and excel,” he said.