GIFAS Mission to the UK to Strengthen Franco-British Industrial Cooperation

From 25 to 29 October 2026, Olivier Andriès, President of the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS), will lead a delegation of 70 French companies — including start-ups, SMEs, mid-sized companies and major industrial groups — to the United Kingdom. From London to Bristol, taking in Stevenage, Harwell, Derby and Sheffield, among other locations, the mission will combine meetings with both institutional and industry representatives and tours of industrial facilities. In total, the delegation will visit 20 sites across 9 cities.

The mission is part of GIFAS’s international efforts to develop industrial cooperation with partner countries. The previous industrial mission, led by Guillaume Faury, then President of GIFAS, took place in India in October 2024.

Nearly 50 French aerospace companies currently have operations in the United Kingdom, accounting for more than 46,000 direct jobs and almost 80 industrial sites. This French industrial footprint is underpinned by the long-established presence of major groups such as Airbus, Safran, Thales and MBDA, which are deeply integrated into British value chains. A number of French SMEs and mid-sized companies also operate in the UK.

The aim of this industrial mission is to forge connections with major British prime contractors, gain a better understanding of the local industrial and innovation ecosystem, and identify new opportunities for French companies. GIFAS is working closely with its British counterpart, ADS, and regional industry clusters.

The mission will bring together 70 French companies, ranging from major industrial groups to SMEs and start-ups. They will follow two complementary tracks: 53 companies will participate in the aeronautics track and 20 in the space track, with some taking part in both.

The delegation will visit several of the UK’s major industrial hubs. Two separate itineraries will allow participants to explore key issues in the aeronautics and space sectors, while bringing the entire delegation together for key institutional and business events.

On Monday 26 October, a bilateral reception will be held at the French Ambassador’s Residence in London. The following day, a Franco-British seminar will bring together institutional and industry representatives to discuss cooperation in the aeronautics, defence and space sectors. The programme will also feature three round-table discussions covering these sectors, a networking lunch, as well as B2B and B2G meetings.

The aeronautics track will take the delegation to Pitstone, Stevenage, Filton, Bristol, Derby and Sheffield, where participants will visit or meet with organisations including Safran Electrical & Power, MBDA, GKN Aerospace, Airbus, the National Composites Centre (NCC), Babcock, Rolls-Royce, Gardner Aerospace and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The space track will cover Luton, Stevenage, Harwell and Leicester. Organisations on the itinerary include Telespazio UK, Airbus Defence and Space, the Harwell Space Cluster, Thales Alenia Space, the UK Space Agency (UKSA), ESA ECSAT and Space Park Leicester.

In addition to the site visits, the mission will enable French companies to meet potential British partners and identify new business opportunities.

Over four days, French and British industry and institutional representatives will come together to strengthen ties between their respective ecosystems and foster new partnerships in the aeronautics, defence and space sectors.

From major industrial groups to SMEs and start-ups, 70 French companies will take part in the mission.

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