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GMR Aero Technic has signed an agreement with Boeing Defence India Private Limited to undertake Phase 56 heavy maintenance checks for the Indian Navy’s fleet of Boeing P-8I aircraft, marking a significant step in India’s push to strengthen indigenous defence aviation sustainment capabilities.
The work will be carried out at GMR Aero Technic’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility located at the GMR Aerospace Park Special Economic Zone in Hyderabad. The maintenance programme will include structural upgrades, extensive inspections, painting and system upgrades in line with Boeing and military aviation maintenance standards.
The agreement is being seen as a strategic milestone for India’s evolving defence MRO ecosystem, particularly as New Delhi seeks to reduce dependence on overseas maintenance support for frontline military platforms and position the country as a regional aviation sustainment hub.
Calling the partnership a major development for the company, President of GMR Aero Technic, Ashok Gopinath, said the project deepens GMR Aero Technic’s long-standing association with Boeing, which already includes collaborations in passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversions.
“This is our first major engagement supporting a frontline defence aircraft platform and reflects the confidence in our technical capabilities and skilled workforce,” he said. “The agreement reinforces our long-term vision of building India into a global defence MRO hub and establishing GMR Aero Technic as a trusted provider for complex military aircraft sustainment.”
Nikhil Joshi, Managing Director, Boeing Defence India, said sustaining operational readiness through partnerships remains central to Boeing’s support framework for defence customers.
“Our collaboration with GMR Aero Technic on Phase 56 heavy maintenance checks for the P-8I fleet reflects Boeing’s continued commitment to strengthening India’s MRO ecosystem,” Joshi said. He added that the partnership aligns with Boeing’s broader efforts in India, spanning manufacturing, services, research and development, sustainment and talent development.
The Boeing P-8I is the Indian Navy’s primary long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Based on the Boeing 737 platform, the aircraft is equipped for anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
The Indian Navy currently operates 12 P-8I aircraft, deployed at INS Rajali (Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu) and INS Hansa (Dabolim, Goa), forming a critical component of India’s maritime security architecture in the Indian Ocean Region.
Team BharatShakti
