Armament is causing debate in public opinion. However, defense continues to progress in France. In the Grand Est and Haute-Marne regions, this is observed by Aériades, a cluster that supports companies in gaining expertise in the aerospace, space, and defense sectors.
It coordinates, structures, and develops the aerospace, space, and defense sector in the Grand Est. It is the Aériades cluster, founded in 2003. To date, it has around a hundred member companies, a number that is constantly increasing.
“We are here to support industrialists in gaining expertise and maturity in these sectors,” said Bernard Fouilhac Gary, the director, during a meeting at the Salon des savoir faire de Nogent last Thursday. “The goal is to allow small and medium-sized companies to access the sector in the Grand Est region. We are part of the French Defense and Security Industries Group (GICAT) and the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS).”
In an increasingly tense international context where threats are on the rise, interest in the defense and armament industry is growing. The government has urged industrialists to accelerate their pace.
“Public orders have not yet arrived with our suppliers in the Grand Est, but we need to be prepared. Currently, there is a kind of inertia, a lot of observation, a lot of groundwork, but there will likely be programs launching,” emphasized Bernard Fouilhac Gary. The 2024-2030 Military Programming Law reinforces this view, foreseeing a 40% increase in defense spending, whether for equipment or personnel, totaling 413 billion euros over seven years.
Securing contracts in the sector, the added bonus
Aériades, under agreement with the DGA (Directorate General of Armaments) and the Grand Est region, focuses on two main missions: supporting its members at trade shows and business conventions, such as the Paris Air Show, and offering sector animation and networking, through, among other things, thematic meetings.
Several other companies in Haute-Marne, including Chesneau Serret, Acemtec, and SMAC in Chanoy, are part of this cluster. Ultimately, these exchanges may lead to securing contracts in the sector as subcontractors for giants in the aerospace and defense industry, a benefit that Aériades would certainly appreciate as well.
Last November, the cluster launched a new initiative called “Horizons 2026,” offering training on diversification to forty companies. “Many companies have shown interest,” said Bernard Fouilhac Gary, mentioning Gillet Tools, a specialist in custom tooling in Nogent.
<p"Today, defense involves a lot of exports. We are talking about CAESAR cannons, Rafales, missile or ammunition production. There is a strong need to increase capacity. For example, two and a half Rafales are produced each month. The aim is to increase it to four," detailed the president of Aériades. Illustrating this trend with numbers, the Safran group increased its workforce in Molsheim (Alsace) by 18% between early 2024 and mid-2025. Being involved in the defense sector is now a business secret for companies. But the reality is clear: behind the scenes, everyone is working hard.
Delphine Catalifaud
