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Towards a “Sustainable Defense”: Balancing Operational Efficiency and Environmental Imperatives (Part II)

March 21st, 2025 – By Murielle Delaporte


Highlights from the fourth panel of the AD2S conference cycle, titled “The Aerospace Operational Support Services: An Innovative Actor in Sustainable Development”

 

Below is Part Two of the panel proceedings:

 

1. Resource Efficiency

 

While energy conservation is a clear priority for IGA Thierry Bellœil at the Bordeaux Aeronautical Industrial state facility (AIA for “atelier industriel de l’aéronautique”), particularly concerning environmental risk management and the modernization of the water network, he notes that the facility operates “like any industrial establishment.”

 

However, when it comes to military MRO, a broader commitment to overall resource efficiency is essential. Rooted in its origins as the first ARMA—an aeronautical equipment repair workshop established in 1934—the Bordeaux AIA has always placed repair at the core of its mission. Today, repair is not only its raison d'être but also a cornerstone of sustainable development through resource conservation.

 

At the Bordeaux AIA, which handles engine MRO for various aircraft (Rafale, Mirage, Alphajet, Tiger, C130, Hawkeye, etc.), repair goes far beyond simple part replacement. It involves restoring components—even disassembling the tens of thousands of parts in an engine if necessary. “If a brake pad is worn, we don’t just replace it—we restore it using advanced techniques like welding, electron beam treatment, electrolysis, plasma spraying, or laser work. We invent new repair processes to extend part lifespan. Sometimes, we rebuild an entire component from salvaged sections of other parts. This not only saves resources but also time—because while such a repair might take months, it is often faster than waiting two or three years for a new part.”

 

This strategy aligns operational readiness with sustainable development by minimizing material waste. Gauthier Houel refers to this as a true “circular economy approach,” highlighting the role of the support service direction DGSM at Dassault Aviation as an “architect of support.” For Houel, a former military officer, the aim is a global, cost-controlled maintenance strategy—designing aircraft for easier servicing, extending system lifecycles, optimizing scheduled maintenance, and finding ways to repurpose materials for secondary use.

 

The development of digital tools, such as digital twins, is also contributing to this resource-focused approach. By integrating CSR-driven research and environmental considerations, these tools allow for better control over logistics—and by extension, reduce the overall environmental footprint. It’s a virtuous cycle: less transport, less energy use, less impact.

 

Sopra Steria is applying a similar philosophy. The company sees digital technology not as a burden, but as a powerful enabler—and even an accelerator—of sustainable aviation. Christian Forestier, Director of Vertical Aeroline, emphasized the importance of transitioning from “compulsive digital consumption to efficient digital solutions” through the Aeroline Sustain program. This transformation is driven by simulation tools and high-performance computing, which power the development of data platforms and digital twins.

 

With digital technologies already accounting for an average of 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions - a figure expected to rise by more than 45% by 2030 -, Sopra Steria’s strategy tackles the environmental footprint of IT through three main pillars: optimizing device life cycles, transforming infrastructure, and rationalizing data usage.

 

At the core of this strategy is the ability to measure environmental impact and apply eco-design principles to digital services. Sopra Steria offers several specialized tools for this purpose:

  • “Sustainable IT Platform: Measures and analyzes the environmental impact of digital solutions or information systems, based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.
  • S4U: Evaluates the carbon footprint of a mission using both top-down and bottom-up approaches.
  • Cloud Scanner: Provides real-time environmental impact analysis of AWS Instances.
  • Eco-design Repositories: Assess the eco-design maturity of digital solutions and suggest improvements that reduce environmental impact.”[1]

 

 

2. Anticipating military MRO Innovation in Sustainable Development

 

Both Gauthier Houel and IGA Bellœil stressed the importance of anticipating, planning, and monitoring in order to keep pace with evolving environmental regulations, especially those stemming from European legislation such as REACH (Annex 14)[2].

 

As with PFAS, it is often difficult—sometimes impossible—to find viable substitutes for certain materials that are banned due to their hazardous effects. One such example is chromium, “a material widely used in aeronautics for its remarkable properties: resistance to extreme heat (aircraft engines operate at temperatures over 1,500°C), corrosion, abrasion, galling, and salt spray”[3]. The Bordeaux AIA is actively researching alternatives in partnership with universities and research centers, but has yet to find a substitute that matches chromium’s unique combination of attributes.

 

Even if a suitable replacement is found, it must undergo extensive testing, including flight trials and validation by the DGA. Additionally, the long-term availability and stability of supply chains must be considered before a full transition can occur.

Some successful substitutions have already been made—for example, replacing CO₂-based stripping methods with NDT infrared thermography for defect detection—but such innovation requires ongoing monitoring and preparation.

 

This forward-thinking approach must extend not only to specific materials that might be banned or face supply disruptions, but also to the entire ecosystem supporting them. Houel pointed to hydrogen fuel cells as an example: while they function well in concept, challenges related to hydrogen storage and transport remain significant.

 

In short, any new sustainable solution must not only be designed for operational functionality ; it must also be part of a comprehensive, adaptable, and resilient support system.

 

This philosophy is also embraced by Sabena Technics, whose strategy has shown tangible results. François Doré, Deputy General Manager of Strategy and Innovation, noted the company’s achievement of a B rating from CDP, the leading global platform for evaluating organizational environmental impact. The CDP rating “reflects alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C”. According to Sabena Technics, this rating “demonstrates the group’s maturity in managing greenhouse gas emissions and its commitment to transparency, responsibility, and concrete climate action”[4].

 

 

Notes :

 

[1] https://www.soprasteria.fr/secteurs-activite/secteurs-activiteaerospatial/programme-aeroline-sustain

[2] Editor's Note: “REACH is a European regulation (EC No. 1907/2006) that came into force in 2007 to protect human health and the environment from chemical risks and to harmonize chemical industry regulations across the EU.” (source : https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/politiques-publiques/reglement-reach)

[3] IGA Bellœil

[4] https://www.sabenatechnics.com/corporate/sabena-technics-se-dote-de-la-note-b-au-cdp-la-plateforme-de-reference-mondiale-devaluation-de-limpact-environnemental-des-organisations

 

 

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