A&D Weekly News & Transactions - Week 36

Industry Headline News

Safran considers sale of aircraft interiors assets worth up to €1.5 billion
Sep. 5, 2025 - Safran, the French aerospace and defense group, is weighing the sale of a large swath of its aircraft interiors business—comprising overhead cabin bins, kitchen galleys, and other interior fittings—for as much as €1.5 billion, while explicitly excluding its cabin seats division from the potential divestment. The strategic move reflects Safran’s intent to offload lower-margin operations and sharpen its focus on more profitable sectors like jet engines, with interest reportedly coming from private equity firms and equipment manufacturers. In parallel, the company has also been exploring a potential sale of its in-flight entertainment business, following an uplift in its annual forecast driven by renewed profitability in its interiors unit. (Reuters)

Trump Pushes to Rename Pentagon as “Department of War”
Sep. 5, 2025 - President Trump plans to sign an executive order rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to assume the title “Secretary of War.” The title change is intended for ceremonial and communication purposes—the formal name change would require Congressional approval. Critics argue the move is symbolic, potentially costly, and risks undermining international norms, while supporters frame it as restoring historical strength. (Fox News)

GE Aerospace and BETA Technologies Partner to Advance Hybrid-Electric Flight
Sep. 4, 2025 - GE Aerospace has entered a strategic partnership with BETA Technologies, committing a $300 million equity investment to co-develop a hybrid electric turbogenerator for advanced air mobility applications. The project targets long-range VTOL aircraft and future BETA designs, leveraging GE’s engine and certification expertise alongside BETA’s innovation in electric propulsion. The collaboration aims to enhance range, payload, and performance compared to traditional propulsion systems. (PR Newswire)

Aerospace Parts Manufacturing Market to Reach ~$1.2 Trillion by 2030
Sep. 4, 2025 - The global aerospace parts manufacturing market is projected to grow from approximately USD 936 billion in 2024 to around USD 1.2 trillion by 2030, reflecting steady expansion. Growth is driven by rising passenger traffic in regions like Asia-Pacific, trade increases, and demand for lightweight, fuel-efficient aircraft components. North America currently leads the market, spurred by strong defense budgets and technological investments. (Yahoo Finance)

Canada’s WestJet places long-term order for 67 Boeing planes
Sep. 3, 2025 - WestJet, the Calgary-based low-cost Canadian carrier, has placed its largest-ever aircraft order with Boeing: 60 737-10 MAX narrow-body jets and seven 787-9 Dreamliners, plus options for an additional 25 737-10 MAX and four more Dreamliners, with deliveries scheduled through 2034. The airline currently flies 193 passenger jets with an average age of 10 years, and this deal brings its firm order book to 123 aircraft plus 40 options—making it the largest among Canadian airlines and doubling WestJet’s Dreamliner fleet. Boeing touts the 737 MAX models as offering 20% lower fuel consumption and emissions, along with a 14% reduction in airframe maintenance costs. (Reuters)

US Army awards Lockheed record $9.8 billion missile contract
Sep. 3, 2025 - The U.S. Army signed a multiyear contract with Lockheed Martin valued at $9.8 billion, covering fiscal years 2024 through 2026 for the procurement of 1,970 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors and associated hardware for both U.S. forces and allied partners. (Defense News)

Weekly Transaction Review

No.	Parties Involved	Transaction Metrics			Location	Segment
	Target [Parent] Acquirer [Parent]	Price ($M)	Price/ Revenue	Price/ EBITDA	Target	Target
1	SOBEK Motorsporttechnik Deutz	$141.9	-	11.0x	Hirschberg, Germany	Components & Subsystems
2	MSI Consulting Cherokee Nation Businesses	-	-	-	Reston, VA	Government Services, IT Services and Software
3	Interconnect Solutions [Tide Rock] Cogenuity Partners	-	-	-	Chino, CA	Connectors
4	Aerospace Technologies Group Jamco [Bain Capital]	-	-	-	Boca Raton, FL	Aircraft Interiors
5	MSM Industries Canopy Aerospace & Defense [Trive Capital]	-	-	-	Riverside, CA	Composites
6	Hera Technologies Canopy Aerospace & Defense [Trive Capital]	-	-	-	Ontario, CA	Machined & Cast Parts
7	B&S Aircraft Alloys Dallas Opportunity Partners	-	-	-	Syosset, NY	Machined & Cast Parts
8	Tekfused Summit 7 Systems	-	-	-	Midland, VA	Government Services, IT Services and Software
9	Attollo Engineering Safran Space & Defense [Safran]	-	-	-	Camarillo, CA	Sensors & C4ISR

No.	Target Descriptions
1	SOBEK is a supplier of high-performance pumps and hydraulic systems for private sector and international government automotive, defense, and medical markets. The company supplies electric drive systems including motor, control elements, and software to leading European drone manufacturers, and as a key component supplier is part of the new European ecosystem.
2	MSI Consulting a provider of digital consulting and transformation solutions for private sector and U.S. federal government civilian, defense, environmental, and financial markets. The firm specializes in strategy, process optimization, human capital, business transformation and digital transformation, including robotic process automation and intelligent automation for federal clients.
3	Interconnect Solutions designs and manufactures custom and complex interconnect solutions for private sector and U.S. federal government aerospace and defense markets. The company's expertise includes cable assemblies, harnesses, custom overmolded solutions, and molded strain reliefs.
4	Aerospace Technologies Group is a developer and supplier of window shade systems for private and commercial aviation. ATG's flagship commercial aerospace product is the aerBlade® window shade system enabling passenger and crew control of window shades at the touch of a button, eliminating the need for flight attendants to check the cabin during take-off and landing.
5	MSM Industries is a developer of advanced radar-absorbing materials, thermal control systems, and engineered composite structures for U.S. defense and aerospace markets.
6	Hera Technologies is a developer of advanced thermal protection systems and integrated structures for private sector and U.S. federal government aerospace and defense markets.
7	B&S Aircraft Alloys is a supplier of high-performance metal alloys, precision raw materials, and value-added processing services for private sector and U.S. federal government aerospace, defense, energy, and industrial markets. The company has a full range of forging services enabling them to provide all shapes, sizes and weights from 1-40,000 pounds. B&S is certified to ISO 9001:2008/AS9120 standards.
8	Tekfused is a provider of practical, high-impact training to defense industrial base professionals preparing for CMMC certification. The company specializes in authorized PECB courses and certifications in AI, information and cybersecurity, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC).
9	Attollo Engineering is a developer of infrared technologies and sensors for private sector and U.S. federal government aerospace and defense markets. The company specializes in shortwave infrared (SWIR) and midwave infrared (MWIR) imaging systems and laser sensing technologies.