Adani Defence & Aerospace and Italian aerospace firm Leonardo have moved to strengthen India’s helicopter industrial base by agreeing to jointly create a localized production and sustainment framework to support future military requirements.
Formalized through a memorandum of understanding, the partnership will focus on the manufacture, assembly, and lifecycle support of helicopters in India, beginning with the AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM platforms intended for the Indian Armed Forces.
According to the companies, the collaboration will follow a phased approach to indigenization, encompassing assembly operations, MRO activities, pilot training, and long-term sustainment. The localized ecosystem is expected to address both defense and potential civil demand while integrating Indian facilities into Leonardo’s global supply network.
Adani Defence noted that the agreement aligns with national objectives under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, as India projects demand for over 1,000 military helicopters during the coming decade.
The initiative adds to a series of major efforts to localize helicopter production in India. In 2016, Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems established an Apache fuselage manufacturing line in Hyderabad, which by 2023 had delivered hundreds of units for global AH-64 programs.
At the same time, HAL has expanded indigenous rotorcraft development, including the introduction of the LCH Prachand and progress on light utility helicopters. Airbus Helicopters has also increased sourcing from Indian suppliers for the H125, while exploring broader industrial cooperation.
