Safran Electronics & Defense to Establish New Satellite Electric Propulsion Production Line in Colorado

Safran Electronics & Defense, a leading global aerospace and defense company, has announced plans to establish a new production line in the United States dedicated to satellite electric propulsion systems. This strategic move aims to serve both commercial and U.S. government customers, expanding Safran's footprint in the rapidly growing space industry.

New Production Facility in Colorado

The new facility will be located in Colorado, a state that has become a hub for aerospace and defense industries.

The facility will focus on producing Safran's EPS X00 electric thrusters, which are specifically designed for smaller spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit (LEO). The first thrusters from this new production line are expected to be ready in the first quarter of 2026.

"Mirror" Production Line Strategy

This Colorado facility will be a "mirror" of an existing production line in France that also manufactures the EPS X00 series. The French production line began operations in the second quarter of this year and is already set to deliver its first thrusters for launch on an undisclosed satellite later this year.

“With this double manufacturing line, we are able to provide trust and confidence to both U.S. domestic, national programs as well as commercial programs,” - Alex Thily, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Space at Safran

This approach allows Safran to cater specifically to U.S. government and commercial customers through the Colorado facility, while the French line will continue to serve customers in the rest of the world.

Component Sourcing and Technical Specifications

While the thrusters produced at both facilities will be identical in function and performance, there will be a key difference in the sourcing of components for the power processing unit. The U.S.-based facility will use components sourced domestically, whereas the French facility will utilize foreign-sourced components.

The EPS X00, or "X-hundred," thruster operates at power levels between 400 and 1,000 watts, and can be configured to use either xenon or krypton as a propellant. Krypton, though offering slightly lower performance than xenon, is significantly more cost-effective, providing flexibility based on customer needs.

Market Potential and Production Capacity

Safran anticipates significant interest in the EPS X00 thruster from operators of larger LEO satellites as well as small geostationary (GEO) satellites. Potential applications include megaconstellations and satellite servicing spacecraft.

“We are definitely not trying to address small satellites like those 200 kilograms and less,” - Alex Thily, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Space at Safran

Each of Safran’s production lines, both in France and the U.S., is designed to produce up to 200 thrusters annually. The company has the ability to increase this output to 400 thrusters per year by expanding its workforce. Safran has also secured sufficient long-lead items to produce 300 thrusters by the end of 2025, demonstrating its commitment to meeting anticipated demand.

Ongoing Development and Site Selection

As Safran moves forward with its plans, the company is still in the process of selecting a specific location within Colorado for the new factory. The facility is expected to also house other Safran space-related businesses active in the U.S., including satellite communications and space domain awareness operations.

This expansion into the U.S. market underscores Safran’s commitment to serving the needs of U.S. government and commercial customers with cutting-edge propulsion technology.