Sofema facts for kids
Sofema is a French company that works with military and aircraft equipment. Its full name is Société française d’exportation de matériel militaire et aéronautique. This is French for "French company for exporting military and aeronautical equipment."
The company specializes in updating and selling older military gear. This equipment, which includes vehicles for land, sea, and air, often comes from the French Armed Forces. Sofema fixes it up and makes it ready for use again.
Sofema's main office is in Levallois, a city near Paris. It also has technical workshops in other parts of France, like La Teste and Châteauroux.
Company History
Sofema was formed in 1997. It was created by merging two other companies, Ofema and Sofma. At first, its job was to help big French defense and aircraft companies sell their products to other countries.
In 1998, Sofema became a private company. This means it was no longer owned by the government. Many large companies bought parts of Sofema, becoming its shareholders. These included famous names like:
- EADS (now known as Airbus Group)
- Safran (a company that makes aircraft engines and electronics)
- DCNS (a company that builds ships)
- Thales (an electronics company)
- NEXTER SYSTEMS (a company that makes land weapons)
- Dassault Aviation (a famous aircraft maker)
- Renault Trucks (part of the Volvo Group)
Over the years, Sofema's business changed. It moved from just helping other companies sell new products to buying, fixing, and selling older equipment itself. This big change happened around 2007 under the leadership of its CEO, Guillaume Giscard d'Estaing.
What Sofema Does
Fixing Up Old Equipment
Sofema finds first-generation military equipment, which is mostly French-made. "First-generation" means it's older technology, not the newest available. The company then completely overhauls the equipment in its workshops. This makes the gear work like new again.
When Sofema sells this equipment, it also provides support and training to the countries that buy it. This helps the new owners learn how to use and maintain their vehicles and machines.
Some of the equipment Sofema has worked on includes:
- The VBC-90, a wheeled security vehicle.
- The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB), an armored personnel carrier.
- The Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopter.
- Light armored cars like the AML and Eland.
Selling Parts and Giving Advice
Besides selling complete vehicles, Sofema also sells spare parts. This is very helpful for countries that need to repair the equipment they already have.
The company also has a department that gives advice to other groups in the defense and security industry. It helps them with their business in different countries all over the world.
