Safran Opens First European Center for Altitude-Condition Testing of Military Engine Compressors

Belgium's Walloon Region, the Belgian Federal State, and Safran have inaugurated BeCOVER, a new compressor test center for next-generation military and civil aircraft engines.

The center, located in Herstal, Liège Province, is the first of its kind in Europe. BeCOVER spans 3,000 square meters and is designed to test turbomachinery compressors under altitude conditions using a closed air loop. Developed by Safran Test Cells, the facility integrates energy-efficient technologies and noise-reducing architecture. It supports environmental objectives by advancing innovations in sustainable aviation.

Starting December, BeCOVER will house a prototype low-pressure rapid compressor for the Open Fan engine under the CFM RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) program. This engine architecture targets a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, with potential cuts of up to 80% using sustainable aviation fuels.

The high-speed compressor prototype, developed in just over two years with support from the Walloon Innovation Partnership (P.I.T. Wings), is equipped with 1,200 sensors. Testing over six months will assess its aerodynamic performance, contributing to lighter, more efficient engines.

BeCOVER is also open to other industries and academia, providing opportunities for experimental research and collaboration in aerodynamics and turbomachinery. The initiative strengthens Belgium’s aerospace sector and aligns with global sustainability goals.