Adani Defence, Leonardo Partner to Build Integrated Helicopter Manufacturing Ecosystem in India

Ahmedabad, Feb 2026 : Adani Defence & Aerospace on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership with Italian aerospace major Leonardo to develop, manufacture and sustain a comprehensive helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, marking a significant step toward strengthening the country’s indigenous defence capabilities.

The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at establishing a fully integrated helicopter production framework in India. Describing the collaboration as a landmark initiative, the partners said it would address the rapidly growing requirements of the Indian Armed Forces while advancing the nation’s long-term goal of self-reliance in helicopter manufacturing.

Under the partnership, Adani Defence & Aerospace and Leonardo will focus on meeting the operational needs of the Indian military, particularly through the local development and production of Leonardo’s advanced AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters. The collaboration will follow a phased indigenisation roadmap, ensuring increasing levels of local content over time. In addition, the initiative will create robust maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities within the country, along with comprehensive pilot training solutions.

By combining Leonardo’s globally recognised helicopter design, engineering and technological expertise with Adani Defence’s end-to-end experience across defence manufacturing and aerospace systems, the partnership is expected to significantly enhance India’s defence preparedness. The initiative aligns closely with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and is also designed with the potential to expand into civil aviation applications and global supply chain integration in the future.

The proposed helicopter ecosystem is projected to generate a strong economic impact, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs across engineering, manufacturing, logistics and long-term sustainment services. It is also expected to position India as a competitive and reliable hub for helicopter production, not only for domestic requirements but also for international markets.

Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Defence & Aerospace, said the alliance with Leonardo represents a pivotal step toward building a resilient and future-ready helicopter manufacturing base in India. He noted that the collaboration merges global excellence with India’s growing industrial strength to deliver long-term value, high-skill employment and strategic depth to the country’s aerospace sector.

Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence & Aerospace, highlighted that with the Indian Armed Forces projecting demand for more than 1,000 helicopters over the next decade, the partnership would accelerate indigenisation, strengthen domestic supply chains and establish India as a world-class helicopter production base.

Leonardo Helicopters Managing Director Gian Piero Cutillo said the company was pleased to join hands with Adani to support India’s expanding rotorcraft industry, enabling access to modern technology and enhanced operational capabilities through shared expertise and collaboration.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)