AeronauticsAeronautics
Insights
ALTEN in Aeronautics
Embarking on innovation
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The aeronautics industry is at the forefront of innovation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of air travel.
Driven by the need for faster, more efficient, and more comfortable flight, challenged by environmental constraints, aeronautics engineers are continuously exploring new technologies and materials to create the best possible product. From advanced materials and engines to cutting-edge avionics and navigation systems, the aeronautics industry is constantly striving to make air travel safer, more convenient and enjoyable.
Decarbonizing the future of aviation
The aeronautics industry has come under scrutiny in recent years for its CO2 emissions. Current projections estimate that demand for air transport in 2050 could exceed 10 billion passengers. To meet this demand in a sustainable fashion, the industry is making considerable efforts to move towards decarbonization, with a commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. Hydrogen-powered aircraft, electrification and new fuels are just some of the innovative technologies that are expected to make this possible, together with design and engineering innovations and the improved industrial management of development cycles.
ALTEN, catalyzing transformation for customers worldwide
As a partner to most aeronautics industry stakeholders, ALTEN is driving the major projects currently taking place and helping shape the digital transformation of this industry. ALTEN’s unique market position also gives the company insider insights into new market entrants, alliances, and other major shifts that are changing the business environment.
ALTEN supports the transformation of its customers in the aeronautics industry by participating in their innovation strategy. The Group supports manufacturers and equipment suppliers in the deployment of new technologies, from the factory to the supply chain, as well as in customer service and airlines. With its expertise in business processes and digital technologies, ALTEN offers innovative solutions to aeronautics players, ranging from predictive maintenance to collaborative customer service platforms.
ALTEN in the Aeronautics industry
585M€
2024 turnover
20
countries
4
domains of expertise in aeronautics: Manufacturer, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Maintenance Repair & Operations (MRO), Operators
What are the market trends in the Aeronautic industry?
Aircraft manufacturers and subcontractors must increase their pace of production to meet the rise in air traffic and the modernisation of existing fleets. Digital transformation requires the deployment of new technologies (Big Data, IoT, augmented reality, etc.) at factory and supply chain levels to improve product quality, all while optimizing production costs.
Following a sharp drop in business in 2020, production is increasing again. Aircraft deliveries for Airbus and Boeing are reaching around 1,250 aircraft in 2023.
Challenges:
- Increasing production rates
- Controlling supply on all production lines
- Ramping up Airbus suppliers
- Deploying Industry 4.0 processes, tools, methods and technology
- Acquiring and integrating new skills (digital, data science, networks, etc.)
The aeronautics sector intends to take advantage of digital transformation to optimize its internal processes by adopting an end-to-end approach (engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, decision-making, etc.) and by creating new services, a source of additional revenue.
Airbus believes that it will be able to develop an aircraft twice as quickly thanks to digital continuity (with a new PLM approach). Skywise, Airbus’s data platform, is already used by several airlines, with more than a thousand connected aircrafts and a declared objective of 0 AOG (Aircraft on Ground).
Challenges:
- Combining business knowledge and digital skills
- Structuring and interconnecting data sources to render them more useful
- Succeeding in managing change within the company (scaled agile, end-to-end…)
Aircraft manufacturers are preparing the aircraft of the future -more fuel-efficient, quieter, less polluting and smart- rather than starting a new project from zero.
As an example, the Falcon 10X, from Dassault Aviation, is powered by business aviation’s most advanced and efficient engine making it 5% more efficient than previous generations, with outstanding low-noise and emissions performance.
Furthermore, to make the Falcon smarter, Dassault Aviation has also developed new military technology, named FalconEye® Combined Vision System. It provides flight crew unprecedented situational awareness in all weather conditions, day or night and guidance on approaches before the runway is sighted.
Challenges:
- Reducing the “time to market” by optimizing development schedules
- Integrating electric propulsion (hybrid propulsion, electric drive mode, etc.)
- Ensuring the continuity of smart services for passengers (from the airport to the aircraft)
- Introducing new materials and new manufacturing techniques (e.g.: 3D printing)
ALTEN VALUE PROPOSITION
Our expertise & our offers
Smarter engineering to speed up product innovation
System Engineering covers the full product lifecycle: upstream (needs analysis, requirements definition, system architecture) and downstream (integration, verification, validation, qualification – IVVQ – and certification). This end-to-end approach ensures full traceability, robust performance, and compliance with regulations.
Engineering excellence from legacy turbines to next-gen aero-engines
Aerospace and Defense propulsion system manufacturers face a dual challenge:
- Ensuring the performance and availability of legacy engines that drive aftermarket revenues.
- Accelerating innovation toward greener engines, such as electric and hydrogen propulsion, to meet net-zero targets.
Mechanical mastery powering aerospace innovation
The aeronautics, space and defense sectors are undergoing a major transformation, driven by increasing system complexity, ambitious sustainability targets, and rapid digitalization.
Empowering systems with safe and high-performance code
Aerospace and Defense programs increasingly rely on embedded software to deliver performance, safety, and competitiveness. Yet, software complexity is growing exponentially — systems must process more data, respond in real time, integrate with hardware, and comply with the strictest certification and cybersecurity standards.
Smarter embedded systems for innovation and reliability
In Aerospace & Defense, electronics are evolving at high speed — driven by electrification, embedded intelligence, and digital continuity. To stay ahead, OEMs and suppliers must deliver increasingly complex, connected systems while meeting ever-stricter safety, qualification, and cybersecurity requirements.
Agile and sustainable manufacturing for a new industrial era
The aerospace and defense industry is facing a decisive industrial shift, driven by production acceleration, digital transformation, and environmental transition.
Data-driven strategies to secure and streamline aerospace production
Aerospace and defense players navigate unprecedented production ramp-ups while facing disrupted supply chains, geopolitical uncertainty, and rising sustainability demands. Tier-1 and Tier-N suppliers encounter bottlenecks, part shortages, and fragmented systems, all threatening delivery performance and program timelines.
Ensuring system integrity with sovereign and secure-by-design solutions
In an era of growing geopolitical tension, digital interdependence, and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, sovereignty and cybersecurity have become strategic imperatives for aerospace, defense, and critical infrastructure stakeholders.
Mastering complexity to deliver impactful results
Aerospace and defense programs are growing in complexity. Accelerated time-to-market, on-time delivery, and competitiveness require managing extended value chains and evolving risks.
Leading the green shift throughout the product lifecycle
ALTEN combines 17 years of sustainability experience in aerospace & high‑tech industries with a 500‑strong pool of environment, health & safety (EHS) consultants to deliver end‑to‑end green transformation. Our offer helps clients comply with evolving regulations (REACH, CSRD, Fit‑for‑55), reduce their environmental footprint, and embed a sustainability‑first culture.
Unlocking the full value of aircraft operations through data-driven services
In today’s aerospace landscape, Customer Services play a critical role in ensuring fleet availability, regulatory compliance, and operational performance. As digital transformation accelerates, industry players are turning to predictive maintenance, advanced analytics and secure platforms to increase responsiveness and reduce downtime.
We support you in taking advantage of AI in Engineering and IT Services
With AI experts and a global community of AI-augmented engineers, ALTEN helps clients adopt AI responsibly and efficiently, combining innovation, sustainability and operational excellence. Our approach ensures optimized performance, seamless integration and secure deployment, delivering high-impact, AI-driven solutions tailored to engineering and IT challenges.
ALTEN’s functional sectors
- Aerostructure (design, stress, DMU integration)
- Cabin
- System design (avionics, maintenance, electrics, landing gear, propulsion)
- Software development
- Testing
- Process (configuration, MBSE, certification, airworthiness)
- Work preparation: routings, industrial process design, jigs & tools
- Manufacturing Engineering performance: Operational excellence, lean/6 sigma
- Logistics
- Quality
- Supply chain & Supply chain quality
- Engineering & Maintenance
- Technical docs & service bulletins
- Training & Flight ops
- Operation & services
- Customer digital solutions
- Digital transformation
- PLM integration project
- Development applications (cloud SW, Portal)
- Infrastructure & cloud
- Extended enterprise
- Digital workspace
- Cybersecurity
Our Success Stories
As the market focuses on the roadmap to net-zero by 2050 – exploring electrification, sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen to power planes – ALTEN is partnering with one of the world’s largest commercial aircraft manufacturers, playing an active part in building tomorrow’s aviation.
FAST, the cockpit platform, developed by ALTEN, is entering a new phase of development. The platform aims to provide a comprehensive solution for cockpit management, integrating various technologies and systems. With this new milestone, FAST is poised to enhance cockpit operations’ efficiency and functionality.
A major aircraft manufacturer wants to deploy a digital dashboard to interface with the different lines of business in order to optimize the scheduling of all the activities on a final assembly line (FAL). By combining several expert skills in manufacturing and BI (Business Intelligence), ALTEN accompanied the client’s production teams in preparing data and provided support in defining the specifications of this digital tool.
ALTEN oversees supply management for all the mechanical and structural parts for a global leader in civilian and military helicopters production in France and Germany. A disruptive strategy and a mature nearshore organization has allowed it to reduce supply management costs by 30% and deliver a high standard of service (e.g.: OTD>95%, reduction in missing parts and stock).
OUR CLIENTS
Aircraft manufacturer
Airbus Group, Dassault Aviation, Raytheon
Boeing
Aircraft equipment manufacturer
Rolls-Royce, Safran Group, Thales Group, Liebherr, Airbus Atlantic…
Spirit Aerospace
