French engine-maker Snecma has opened a new facility in France, consolidating Military Engine division and government aircraft maintenance units.

The facility is in Bordeaux and is to consolidate the regional units to enhance support services for aircraft engines supplied to the French Air Force Command and maintenance organization, which are located nearby.

"It is with great pride that we inaugurate this new facility ...," said Pierre Fabre, chief executive officer of Snecma. "Through this new location we can work more closely with the government support organizations, delivering services that precisely address their requirements. By enhancing our support services we maximize the dispatch reliability of the engines powering their combat and transport aircraft, at a moment when French forces are heavily involved in a number of operational deployments."

Snecma supplies the M88 and M53 engines Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighters, respectively. It is also a partner in Europrop International, the consortium responsible for the TP400 turboprop engine that powers the Airbus A400M military transport.

Details on the size of the new facility in Bordeaux were not provided by Snecma.