Aerospace: Flying High

No sector better exemplifies French manufacturing prowess than aerospace. Employing 190,000 people and generating €65 billion in revenue, the industry builds on decades of strategic investment and European cooperation.

Airbus: European Champion

The Airbus story began in 1970 as a bold experiment in European industrial cooperation. Today, with final assembly lines in Toulouse, the company represents 40% of French aerospace employment. The Toulouse ecosystem demonstrates industrial clustering's power:

- 1,500 companies in the Aerospace Valley cluster - Specialized engineering schools producing 3,000 graduates annually - Research centers linking industry with academia - Supplier networks spanning from major systems integrators to specialized SMEs

Jacques Pelissier manages a 200-employee company producing hydraulic systems for Airbus. His firm exemplifies the "hidden champions" powering French aerospace:

"My grandfather made agricultural equipment. My father shifted to aircraft components in the 1960s. Today, we're developing electric actuators for next-generation aircraft. Each transition required massive investment in skills and equipment, but proximity to Airbus and the ecosystem here made it possible."

Space: The Final Frontier

France's space industry, centered in Toulouse and Cannes, maintains European leadership. ArianeGroup's rockets launch from French Guiana, while Thales Alenia Space builds satellites. The sector shows how government investment can catalyze commercial success:

- Initial development funded through European Space Agency - Commercial contracts now drive 70% of revenue - New Space startups like Kinéis and Unseenlabs emerging - Downstream applications in agriculture, maritime, and communications growing

Challenges and Adaptation

Despite success, aerospace faces disruption:

- COVID-19's impact cut production 40% in 2020 - Decarbonization pressure demands new technologies - Competition from China and new entrants intensifies - Supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by pandemic

Industry response includes:

- €1.5 billion government support for aerospace R&D - Hydrogen aircraft development programs - Digitalization of design and production processes - Supplier consolidation and support programs