New Delhi: Adani Defence & Aerospace, the defence arm of Adani Enterprises, on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership with global aerospace major Leonardo to develop, manufacture and sustain a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, as the country looks to localise defence production and deepen its aerospace supply chains. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the initiative.
The programme will primarily address the Indian Armed Forces’ requirements, with a focus on Leonardo’s AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM platforms. The collaboration envisages phased indigenisation, creation of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities and pilot training infrastructure, with scope to extend the ecosystem to civil aviation and international supply chains over time.
By combining Leonardo’s helicopter design and engineering capabilities with Adani Defence’s manufacturing and programme execution, the partners aim to align the project with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat push and position India as a competitive hub for helicopter production, the companies said. The initiative is also expected to generate high-skill jobs across engineering, manufacturing, logistics and sustainment services.
Jeet Adani, director at Adani Defence & Aerospace, said the alliance would help build a “resilient, future-proof” helicopter ecosystem, while CEO Ashish Rajvanshi pointed to projected demand of over 1,000 helicopters by the armed forces over the next decade as a key driver for sovereign manufacturing. Leonardo Helicopters managing director Gian Piero Cutillo said the partnership would support India’s rotorcraft ambitions by bringing modern technology and operational capability to the market.
The tie-up adds to Adani Group’s broader push in defence and aerospace, even as Leonardo looks to expand its industrial footprint through partnerships in high-growth markets.