Adani Defense & Aerospace has entered into a strategic partnership with Italy’s Leonardo to establish a comprehensive helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India. Leonardo, a major international player in aerospace, defense and security, brings significant technological expertise to the partnership. The move is in response to the Indian Armed Forces’ expected demand for more than 1,000 helicopters over the next decade. This partnership aims to promote sovereign manufacturing and strengthen India’s capability in the aerospace and defense sectors, supporting the country’s broader strategy for self-sufficiency in defense production.

Ashish Rajvanshi, managing director of Adani Defense & Aerospace, emphasized the importance of collaboration in meeting military needs, stating that the initiative “realizes the vision of sovereign manufacturing”. Gian Piero Cutillo, CEO of Leonardo Helicopters, highlighted India as an important market with a rapidly increasing requirement for helicopters within its armed forces.

A memorandum of understanding for the partnership was signed at a function in the national capital on Tuesday. The alliance is intended to address the military specifications of Leonardo’s advanced helicopter models, including the AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM. According to an official statement, “The collaboration will deliver phased indigenization, robust maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities and comprehensive pilot training.”

Industry data indicates that India currently has a helicopter penetration density of less than 250 helicopters for its population, highlighting the need to improve manufacturing capacity. Estimates suggest that India will need about 100 helicopters every year for the next decade to meet its projected civil and defense requirements. The partnership is expected to facilitate the establishment of local manufacturing, assembly, training and long-term support facilities.

Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Defense & Aerospace, commented on the scope of the project, stating, “Together, we will build an ecosystem on Indian soil that brings world-class manufacturing, assembly, training and support into one cohesive whole.” The bases established by Adani and Leonardo aim to serve the country’s civil aviation and defense needs, with a focus on technology transfer, local workforce development and sustainable supply chains.

The announcement follows recent developments in India’s aviation sector, including a separate collaboration between Adani Defense & Aerospace and Brazilian firm Embraer to set up a regional aircraft manufacturing facility. The helicopter initiative with Leonardo is designed to align with industry trends towards increased indigenous production and supports the government’s ongoing ‘Make in India’ programme.