Adani Defence & Aerospace, Leonardo partner to build helicopter ecosystem in India
- Adani Defence & Aerospace and Leonardo announce a strategic partnership to develop, manufacture, and sustain a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India.
- The programme will address the increasing demand and new military requirements, positioning India as a future hub for helicopter manufacturing.
- The partnership paves the path for a new Indian helicopter ecosystem with the potential to be extended to the civil domestic demand, with dedicated localised industrial activities, and support the international supply chain.
Adani Defence & Aerospace, the flagship defence and aerospace arm of Adani Enterprises Ltd, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Leonardo, a global leader in defence, aerospace, and security, to establish a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India.
The strategic partnership aims to develop, manufacture, and sustain a fully integrated helicopter ecosystem in India to address increasing military requirements and position the country as a future hub for helicopter manufacturing. The programme also has the potential to be extended to civil domestic demand, with dedicated localised industrial activities and integration into the international supply chain.
Targeting the Indian Armed Forces’ requirements, particularly for Leonardo’s AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters, the collaboration will deliver phased indigenisation, robust maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and comprehensive pilot training.
By combining Leonardo’s helicopter design and engineering capabilities with Adani Defence & Aerospace’s defence manufacturing and lifecycle support expertise, the partnership aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and strengthens national defence preparedness. The initiative also carries potential for future civil aviation applications and international supply chain participation.
The partnership is expected to generate significant economic impact through the creation of thousands of skilled jobs across engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and sustainment services, while strengthening India’s position as a competitive helicopter manufacturing base.
Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Defence & Aerospace, said: “This alliance with Leonardo represents an important step towards building a resilient helicopter ecosystem in India. By combining global technology with domestic industrial capability, we aim to create long-term value, skilled employment, and alignment with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.”
Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO, Adani Defence & Aerospace, added: “With projected demand for over 1,000 helicopters by the Indian Armed Forces in the coming decade, this partnership supports sovereign manufacturing, accelerates indigenisation, and strengthens supply chains.”
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director, Leonardo Helicopters, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with Adani to contribute to India’s growing rotorcraft industry and to support access to modern technology and operational capability. We look forward to progressing this partnership by leveraging complementary expertise.”
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