Safran inaugurates ‘aviation test center of the future’ in Herstal

French aerospace and defense company Safran has inaugurated BeCOVER, a new aviation test center of the future. The test center in Herstal, in the province of Liège, is the only one in Europe.

The 3,000 m² will be used to test all types of compressors for new generations of civil and military aircraft engines in actual flying conditions. The site represents an investment of 50 million euros.

Less CO2 emissions and fuel consumption

The new test center, located near Safran Aero Boosters, the Belgian subsidiary of the French group Safran, is a world leader in low-pressure compressors and oil systems for civil aircraft engines. Safran aims primarily to test a prototype of the latest low-pressure compressor.

Low-pressure compressors are at the heart of RISE technology, which aims to reduce future engines’ CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by 20% compared to current engines while reducing engine weight and raw materials used in manufacturing.

‘Walloon gold nugget’

The RISE program—RISE stands for Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines—was developed in partnership with American aircraft engine supplier GE Aviation. The RISE compressor prototype is equipped with 1,200 sensors, and Safran CEO Olivier Andries describes its architecture as ” ground-breaking and promising in terms of reducing the carbon footprint of air transport.” Andries calls the new test center nothing less than a “Walloon gold nugget.”

Open test center

Intended for the industrial sector, the BeCOVER test center will operate independently and be accessible to other players in the aerospace sector, such as potential candidates like Rolls Royce or MTU Aero.

For example, the center includes a closed air loop, which will enable turbomachinery to be tested in altitude conditions. The building’s semi-buried architectural design also helps to reduce noise pollution and blends harmoniously into the landscape. It will also be used by the academic and scientific community to conduct experimental research on the aerodynamics of turbomachinery.

Federal and Walloon support

The 50 million euro investment is supported 50% by Wallonie Entreprendre, 25% by the federal government, and 25% by Safran Aero Boosters. For 2024, Safran expects a revenue of around 27 billion euros and a recurring operating income of 4 billion euros.

With the opening of the test center, the Walloon aerospace industry is getting a severe second boost in a short time. Last year, Safran Aero Boosters began constructing a new plant in Marchin, also in the province of Liège.

Safran Blades, located on a 10,000 m² former ArcelorMittal site, will specialize in producing compressor blades for aircraft engines and should be operational by 2025. The plant’s construction involves an investment of 50 million euros.