Rolls-Royce has a long history in France and is successfully developing strategic markets in its main business sectors: civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy including civil nuclear. In each of these sectors, we have a partnership with a global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or operator. These partnerships allow us not only to develop business in France, but also to reach other international markets.
Rolls-Royce employs more than 600 people in France. Our highly qualified staff develop and co-ordinate significant business operations and strong partnerships with some of France’s leading companies.
Our headquarters are in Paris and our Grenoble plant supplies Instrumentation and Control (I&C) safety systems to French and international partners' nuclear power plants.
We work closely with Safran on research and development programmes, such as Cleansky, and have maintained a close relationship with Turbomeca (Safran Group) for more than 40 years, working together on aircraft and helicopter engines. We also work with French industry, collaborating with a network of company partners such as Safran, Mecachrome, Aubert & Duval and Exameca.
Civil Aerospace
- We supply engines for a wide range of Airbus aircraft: the A320 family (through the V2500 engine), A330, A350XWB and the A380.
- More than 60 per cent of wide-body aircraft delivered by Airbus are powered by Rolls-Royce engines or engines produced in partnership with Rolls-Royce.
- We welcomed Air France-KLM Group to the family of Trent XWB engine operators, following the airline’s decision to select the Airbus A350-900. The subsequent agreement with the Air France-KLM Group covers up to 60 aircraft, 25 of which are planned to be firm orders in the near future.
Defence Aerospace
- Our partnership with Turbomeca (Safran Group) is the oldest defence partnership in Europe, covering Adour (Jaguar/Hawk, UCAVs – nEUROn and Taranis) and the RTM 322 (NH90, EH101, UK Apache).
- We participate in the MTR390 (Tiger) programme.
- Rolls-Royce has a long-term collaboration with Snecma (Safran Group) on the Tyne engine (ATL2/Transall C-160) and a more recent one on the TP400 (A400M).
Marine
- We work with leading companies such as STX France, Groupe Bourbon and CGGVeritas.
- Rolls-Royce marine equipment is fitted on the French Navy fleet. Rolls-Royce and its partner Converteam have developed the Mermaid pod, which powers the the BPC Mistral class ships.
- Bourbon operates Rolls-Royce UT design ships (Abeille Bourbon/Abeille Liberté).
Energy
- Total is a major Rolls-Royce customer, especially with its on-shore and off-shore activities in Western Africa, Middle East and in the North Sea.
- Rolls-Royce is developing strong relationships with the main stakeholders in France’s civil nuclear sector, EDF, AREVA, GDF-Suez and the CEA.
- Our Grenoble plant supplies instrumentation and control (I&C) safety systems to 58 EDF reactors in France and more in Eastern Europe and China. Rolls-Royce also signed a contract with Areva to supply safety instrumentation and control (I&C) technologies and systems for the French nuclear reactor modernisation programme. The systems will be installed in the twenty-strong French fleet of 1300 MW nuclear reactors operated by Electricité de France.
