The aeronautical subcontracting market - France

Defined by AFNOR as "the operation by which a contractor entrusts a subcontractor with all or part of the execution of a works contract or public procurement contract concluded with the project owner", subcontracting in the aeronautics industry is based on a tiered organization. Each subcontractor, often an SME or ETI, contributes around 70-80% of the sector's added value. This network of subcontractors represents a pool of thousands of companies, mainly grouped around major industrial centers such as Airbus in Occitanie and Dassault in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with a dynamic presence in other strategic regions such as the Paris region.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic caused a 35% collapse in sales in the aeronautical industry, but a gradual recovery has since been observed. In 2024, however, sales are still 5.4% lower than in 2019, illustrating a fragile recovery, accentuated by tensions on raw material supplies, notably titanium and aluminum. These shortages, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, are affecting subcontractors' ability to keep pace with aircraft manufacturers' production. Another major challenge for the industry is recruitment. By 2024, 25,000 positions will need to be filled in the French aerospace industry, particularly in production jobs requiring specific skills (milling, turning, etc.). GIFAS has set up tailor-made training programs to meet these needs, but this shortage of skilled manpower is slowing down the pace at which orders are placed. In addition to these obstacles, a third of SME subcontractors remain vulnerable to cyber-attacks, having not yet implemented an information systems security policy (ISSP). In contrast, 57% of large companies in the sector have already carried out a cybersecurity diagnostic, revealing a marked disparity in protection against IT risks, which could weaken the entire supply chain.