Adani–Leonardo Partnership to Boost Helicopter Production and MRO in India

A strategic alliance to create an integrated ecosystem in India for the manufacturing of helicopters was launched on 3 February by the Adani Group and the Italian major Leonardo. This will greatly assist the 'Make in India' initiatives and the goal of increasing India's self-sufficiency. Increasing India's capacity to produce its own helicopters and meeting military demands are two goals of the industrial ecosystem.

At a ceremony in the nation's capital, Adani Defence & Aerospace and Leonardo signed a memorandum of understanding formalising their cooperation. Working together, the two companies will meet the needs of the Indian military, especially in the area of Leonardo's cutting-edge AW169M and AW109 Trekker M helicopters.

Key Features of the Deal

The partnership will provide thorough pilot training, strong maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and gradual indigenisation, according to the official announcement. India needs about 100 helicopters every year for the next decade. However, the country's penetration density of helicopters is below 250 per 100,000 people.

According to Jeet Adani, director of Adani Defence & Aerospace, the company is establishing a framework for an aviation ecosystem that would meet the country's civil and military aviation requirements. He went on to say that the cooperation with Leonardo is based on a shared purpose as well as shared competence. With their combined efforts, he continued, the two companies will construct an ecosystem in India. Manufacturing, assembly, training, and first-rate support will all be a part of this framework.

The Indian Armed Forces are expecting a demand for more than 1,000 helicopters in the next decade. This alliance will fulfil the goal of sovereign manufacturing, according to Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence & Aerospace.

Adani Defence Expanding its Aviation Portfolio

Just one week before this announcement, Adani Defence & Aerospace and Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer forged a strategic partnership. A regional aircraft manufacturing facility is being planned to be established in India as part of this partnership. When it comes to aerospace, military, and security, Leonardo is a major participant on a global scale.

According to Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, India is a significant market. He went on to say that the need for helicopters in the country's military is on the rise. As he continued to explain, he said that this alliance changes the game for India's aerospace sector. "India will be positioned as a reliable worldwide hub for helicopter manufacturing and maintenance thanks to this agreement, which would also enhance defence autonomy," Cutillo opined.