LATECOERE SA

Their core work

Latécoère is a major French aerospace supplier headquartered in Toulouse, specializing in aerostructures (fuselage sections, doors, cockpit structures) and aircraft interconnection systems. In H2020, they contributed to fast rotorcraft development and advanced composite manufacturing for aerospace applications. Their work spans structural design for next-generation aircraft configurations including tiltrotors and compound rotorcraft, as well as cost-effective composite manufacturing processes for complex aerospace structures.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Latécoère's early H2020 involvement (2014) began with fast rotorcraft work under Clean Sky 2, contributing structural expertise as a third party. From 2019 onward, they stepped into a coordination role with ELCOCOS on composite manufacturing, while continuing rotorcraft work with expanded scope covering tiltrotors, compound aircraft, and fuel efficiency. The shift suggests a move from pure structural supply toward ownership of manufacturing innovation and engagement with more diverse aircraft configurations.

Latécoère is expanding from a component supplier role toward leading manufacturing innovation for next-generation aircraft, including unconventional configurations like tiltrotors and compound rotorcraft.

How they like to work

Latécoère primarily participates as a third party in large Clean Sky 2 programmes, contributing specialized aerospace manufacturing expertise to broader consortia. Their single coordinator role (ELCOCOS) signals a growing willingness to lead focused projects. With 31 unique partners across 9 countries, they operate within the well-established European aerospace research ecosystem centered around Clean Sky 2.

Connected to 31 partners across 9 countries, largely through Clean Sky 2 rotorcraft programmes. Their network reflects the concentrated European aerospace supply chain, with Toulouse as a natural hub given proximity to Airbus and major aerospace integrators.

What sets them apart

As a Tier 1 aerospace supplier based in Toulouse, Latécoère brings industrial-scale manufacturing capability and deep aerostructure expertise that most research organizations cannot offer. Their participation bridges the gap between laboratory-scale composite research and series production, making them a valuable partner for projects that need to demonstrate manufacturability. Their dual focus on rotorcraft structures and cost-effective composites positions them at the intersection of new aircraft concepts and production reality.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ELCOCOS
  Their only coordinator role in H2020 — focused on making complex composite structures cheaper to manufacture, directly tied to their core industrial capability.
• GAM-2020-FRC
  Addresses future rotorcraft configurations (tiltrotor, compound aircraft) with ambitious goals for payload, range, and fuel efficiency — signals where next-generation aerospace is heading.