Adani Group Enters Helicopter Manufacturing with Italian Partnership

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Ganpat Singh Chouhan

Adani Group Enters Helicopter Manufacturing with Italian Partnership

Ahmedabad, February 3: Adani Group‘s defense and aerospace division has announced a strategic partnership with Italy’s Leonardo. This collaboration aims to develop a Helicopter Manufacturing ecosystem in India.

In a joint statement, both companies expressed their commitment to creating an integrated ecosystem for helicopter manufacturing in the country. The initiative is designed to meet India’s growing military demands and enhance self-reliance in helicopter production.

The partnership will focus on Leonardo’s advanced AW169M and AW109 Trekker helicopters, aligning with the needs of the Indian Armed Forces. This collaboration will gradually increase indigenous capabilities, strengthen maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, and provide extensive pilot training.

By combining Leonardo’s world-class helicopter design and engineering expertise with Adani Defense’s comprehensive defense and aerospace knowledge, this initiative supports the vision of a self-reliant India. It aims to bolster national defense readiness and can expand into civil aviation and international supply chain integration in the future.

The ecosystem is expected to create thousands of high-skilled jobs in engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and maintenance services, positioning India as a competitive hub for helicopter production.

Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Defense and Aerospace, stated, “This partnership with Leonardo is a significant step towards establishing a robust and future-ready helicopter ecosystem in India. By merging global excellence with our industrial momentum, we aim to promote sustainable value, high-skilled employment, and self-reliance.”

Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defense and Aerospace, highlighted the anticipated demand for over 1,000 helicopters by the Indian Armed Forces in the coming decade. He noted that this partnership will accelerate indigenization, strengthen supply chains, and establish India as a world-class manufacturing center.

Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, expressed enthusiasm about contributing to the strengthening and development of India’s helicopter industry. He emphasized the goal of bringing modern technology and operational capabilities to the level that India deserves.

Previously, last week, Embraer and Adani Defense and Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop an integrated regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. This initiative aims to collaborate on aircraft manufacturing, supply chain, aftermarket services, and pilot training.

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