Armaments are a topic of debate among the public. Despite this, defense continues to advance in France. In the Grand Est region and in Haute-Marne, this is what Aériades, a cluster that supports companies in developing expertise in the aerospace, space, and defense sectors, observes.
It coordinates, structures, and develops the aerospace, space, and defense sector in the Grand Est region. It’s called the Aériades cluster, founded in 2003. To date, it has around a hundred member companies, a number that continues to grow.
“We are here to support industrial companies in developing competence and maturity in these sectors,” said Bernard Fouilhac Gary, its director, last Thursday at the Nogent Skills Fair. “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 industry group for land and land-air defense and security (GICAT) and the French aerospace and space industry group (GIFAS).”
In an increasingly tense international context where threats are rising, the interest in the defense and armaments industry is increasing. The government has urged industrialists to pick up the pace.
“Public orders have not yet arrived with our suppliers in the Grand Est region, but we must be prepared. For now, there is a form of inertia, a lot of observation, a lot of setting up, but there will likely be programs launched,” insists Bernard Fouilhac Gary. The 2024-2030 military programming law supports his certainty: it foresees a 40% increase in spending on armaments, whether for equipment or personnel, totaling 413 billion euros over seven years.
Gaining markets in the sector, the bonus
Aériades, under an agreement with the DGA (General Directorate of Armament) 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.
Like Forgeavia in Biesles, where the next gathering will take place in April, several other companies from Haute-Marne, including Chesneau Serret, Acemtec, and SMAC in Chanoy, are part of this cluster. Ultimately, these exchanges can open doors to gain markets in the sector, as subcontractors for aerospace and defense giants, which Aériades will also benefit from.
Last November, the cluster launched a new initiative called “Horizons 2026,” offering forty companies to receive training on diversification. “Many companies have shown interest,” said Bernard Fouilhac Gary, mentioning Gillet Tools, a specialist in specific tool manufacturing in Nogent.
<p"Today, defense is mainly through exports. We're talking about CAESAR cannons, Rafales, missile production, or ammunition. There is a strong need to increase capacity. For example, two and a half Rafales are produced each month. The goal is to increase to four," details the president of Aériades. Illustrating this trend with numbers, Safran Group increased its workforce in Molsheim (Alsace) by 18% between early 2024 and mid-2025. Being involved in armaments is a trade secret for businesses today. But the reality is that everyone is working behind the scenes."
Delphine Catalifaud
