Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed a strategic partnership with Italian aerospace major Leonardo to develop a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, as the country looks to reduce import dependence and meet rising military requirements. The agreement, formalised through a memorandum of understanding, is aimed primarily at supplying helicopters to the Indian armed forces, with scope for gradual expansion into civil aviation and global supply chains.
The partnership comes at a time when India is stepping up indigenisation in defence manufacturing under its broader self-reliance push, while also seeking to build domestic industrial depth in aerospace platforms that have traditionally relied on imports.
Jeet Adani, Director at Adani Defence & Aerospace, told NDTV Profit that the newly signed MoU reinforces the group's commitment to becoming a key player in the country's aviation ecosystem. He said the vision extends beyond airport operations and aviation services to include a strong push into manufacturing. The goal, he explained, is to provide end-to-end solutions for clients across airlines as well as the armed forces, strengthening the group's ability to support national needs. He added that through this integrated approach, Adani aims to generate greater economic value and create broader opportunities for people across the country.
Platforms, Indigenisation and MRO
Under the proposed collaboration, Adani Defence & Aerospace and Leonardo will focus on Leonardo's light and medium helicopter platforms, including the AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM. The plan involves phased localisation of manufacturing, alongside the development of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities and pilot training infrastructure in India.
Rather than a one-off assembly arrangement, the companies are positioning the programme as an integrated ecosystem covering design support, production, sustainment and training. Such a model aligns with the armed forces' increasing emphasis on lifecycle support and availability, rather than just platform acquisition.
Demand Outlook Drives Timing
Executives at Adani Defence have pointed to projections of demand for more than 1,000 helicopters by the Indian armed forces over the next decade, spanning utility, reconnaissance and light combat roles. That pipeline, combined with evolving operational requirements, has created an opportunity for domestic manufacturing partnerships with established global original equipment manufacturers.
For Leonardo, the tie-up offers a pathway to deepen its footprint in India beyond sales, by embedding itself in local manufacturing and supply chains. The company already operates major helicopter programmes across Europe and the US and has been looking to expand industrial partnerships in key defence markets.
While the immediate focus remains military platforms, the companies have indicated that the ecosystem could eventually cater to civil helicopter demand and international supply chains. If executed at scale, the programme could support high-skill jobs across engineering, manufacturing and sustainment, while adding another private-sector pillar to India's aerospace base.
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