France’s Safran Expands Aerospace Footprint in India with Engine MRO Facility in Hyderabad

French aerospace group Safran has moved into a new phase of expansion in India, unveiling major facilities for civil and military aviation and reaffirming long-term alignment with India’s ‘Make in India’ drive. The company inaugurated its largest global MRO facility for the CFM International LEAP engine in Hyderabad, while also announcing fresh defence-focused investments linked to the Rafale programme.

The inauguration ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Safran Board Chair Ross McInnes, and CEO Olivier Andriès, marks one of the company’s most substantial commitments in the Indian market to date.

€200 Million LEAP Engine MRO Facility to Anchor Safran’s Civil Aerospace Push

The new 45,000-sq-metre LEAP engine MRO centre, which involves an investment of €200 million, is expected to begin operations in 2026. The facility will scale to 300 annual shop visits, backed by a next-generation test bench and a dedicated skill centre expected to train over 100 Indian engineers and technicians each year.

India remains one of the fastest-growing markets for LEAP engines, with Indian carriers operating more than 400 aircraft powered by the LEAP family and holding 2,000 additional engines on order. Employment at the facility is projected to grow from 250 at launch to 1,100 at peak capacity.

New M88 Engine MRO Shop to Strengthen Rafale Support Ecosystem

Safran also confirmed the establishment of an MRO facility for the M88 engine powering the Dassault Rafale. The Hyderabad facility, adjacent to the LEAP centre, is a €40-million investment and will support up to 600 engine modules overhauls annually. Staff strength is expected to reach 150 specialists.

The centre will prioritise the Indian Air Force’s growing Rafale fleet, including the recently ordered 26 Rafale M naval variants, while also supporting export customers.

Joint Venture with BEL to Manufacture ‘Hammer‘ Weapon System

A further boost came with the signing of a Joint Venture and Cooperation Agreement with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on 24 November in New Delhi. The partnership will manufacture Safran’s ‘Hammer’ precision air-to-surface weapon, which can be integrated on the Rafale and India’s HAL Tejas.

Additional Investments in Bengaluru for Avionics, Electronics and Engineering

Safran’s CEO reiterated two previously announced projects worth over €30 million: A Bengaluru engineering centre focused on avionics and actuators, scaling to 250 engineers.

A new electronics and actuation manufacturing facility, employing around 400 people, will be established from 2026.

Safran now operates 18 facilities in India and employs nearly 3,000 personnel, building on a 70-year relationship with the Indian Armed Forces. Its long-standing partnership with HAL includes work on helicopter engines and the co-development of the Aravalli engine for future heavy-lift helicopters.

Technical Agreement Sets Stage for Deeper India–France Defence Science Collaboration

As Safran accelerates its industrial footprint, India and France have opened a fresh chapter in defence science cooperation with the signing of a Technical Agreement between DRDO and France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA).

The agreement was signed in New Delhi by DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat and Lt Gen Gaël Diaz de Tuesta, France’s National Armaments Director. The pact strengthens bilateral defence innovation at a time when both countries are prioritising the development of sovereign capabilities.

Co-Development of Next-Gen Engines and Platforms Moves Ahead

Central to the evolving partnership is the joint India–France effort to design a 120 kN engine for the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft). This programme involves the transfer of technologies in areas where India has traditionally sought external expertise, such as single-crystal blades and high-temperature turbine metallurgy.

In the helicopter segment, HAL and Safran continue work on the Aravalli engine for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), marking a new phase of co-engineering in rotary-wing propulsion.

India Emerges as a Manufacturing Hub in the Indo-French Aerospace Corridor

Industrial cooperation is expanding beyond engines and defence platforms. Godrej Aerospace recently secured a five-year contract to supply titanium ventilation assemblies for the LEAP engine family, reinforcing India’s position in global aerospace supply chains.

The upcoming M88 engine maintenance facility in Hyderabad, Safran’s first outside France, adds another high-value capability and has the potential to employ nearly 1,000 specialists once fully ramped up.

A Partnership with Strategic Momentum

With French President Emmanuel Macron expected in India in February 2026 for the Global AI Summit, the two countries are aligning their cooperation across defence, AI governance, autonomous systems and secure cyber-AI architectures.

Huma Siddiqui