Dec 5 (Reuters) - French jet engine maker Safran

is targeting annual revenue growth in a high

single-digit percentage and a sharply higher profit by 2028, it

said on Thursday ahead of its investor day event in Paris.

The aerospace supplier said it expects air traffic growth,

defense budgets, production ramp-up and pricing to drive annual

sales growth over the next four years.

It aims for a recurring operating income of between 6

billion and 6.5 billion euros ($6.32 billion and $6.85 billion)

by 2028, with low-twenties percentage growth in the propulsion

business buoyed by the transition from the CFM56 to LEAP

engines.

Safran, which co-produces with GE Aerospace the LEAP

engines that power flagship Boeing ( BA ) and Airbus

planes, also confirmed its current-year targets and gave a

preliminary outlook for 2025.

For next year, it forecast revenue growth of around 10%, a

recurring operating income of 4.7 billion to 4.8 billion euros

and a free cash flow of between 2.8 billion and 3.0 billion

euros, based on estimated growth of 15% to 20% in LEAP engine

deliveries.

($1 = 0.9491 euros)