By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Adani Defence & Aerospace, the flagship defence and aerospace arm of Adani Enterprises Ltd and a frontrunner in India’s defence sector on Tuesday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Leonardo, the global leader in defence, aerospace, and security, media reported.
According to the official statement, this landmark partnership will establish a fully integrated helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, addressing surging military demands and propelling the nation toward self-reliance in helicopter production.
The collaboration will deliver phased indigenisation, robust maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities, and comprehensive pilot training, the statement informed targeting the Indian Armed Forces’ requirements, particularly for Leonardo’s advanced AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters,.
According to the Adani Group statement by fusing Leonardo’s world-class helicopter design and engineering prowess with Adani Defence’s end-to-end defence and aerospace expertise, the initiative advances the ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ vision, strengthens national defence readiness, with the potential to be extended to civil aviation applications and international supply chain integration.
The statement said that this ecosystem is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs in engineering, manufacturing, logistics and sustainment services, while cementing India as a competitive hub for helicopter production.
Adani Defence & Aerospace Director Jeet Adani said, “This alliance with Leonardo is a pivotal stride toward a resilient, future-proof helicopter ecosystem in India. Merging global excellence with our industrial momentum, we will drive enduring value, high-skill employment, and alignment with Aatmanirbhar Bharat to position India as a global aerospace powerhouse”.
Adani Defence & Aerospace CEO Ashish Rajvanshi said, “With the Indian Armed Forces projecting demand for over 1000 helicopters in the coming decade, this partnership realises our vision for sovereign manufacturing. It will accelerate indigenisation, strengthen supply chains, and establish India as a world-class production base”.
Leonardo Helicopters Managing Director Gian Pero Cutillo said, “We’re extremely pleased to join forces with Adani to provide our contribution to India’s vision for an even stronger and growing role of their rotorcraft industry, and to enable the country to access the level of modern technology and operational capability it deserves. We look forward to making progress in this endeavour, leveraging our complementary expertise to deliver the best solutions”.
The strategic partnership redefines India’s aerospace landscape, strengthening defence autonomy and positioning the country as a trusted global hub for helicopter manufacturing and sustainment, according to the statement.
