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Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually on Wednesday, 26 November inauguration of Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility at GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park in Hyderabad.
PM Modi said India is now the third largest domestic aviation market in the world and one of the fastest growing markets, with domestic airlines placing orders for over 1,500 aircraft.
The event marks the first time that a global engine manufacturer has set up an aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit in India.
Here’s everything you need to know about French aerospace company Safran’s largest global MRO in India.
World’s largest leap engine MRO
According to Safran, the 45,000 square meter Hyderabad site is the largest MRO center for CFM International LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engines, which power the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 Max fleet.
Built on an investment of approximately €200 million – part of Safran’s wider €1-billion global MRO expansion – the Hyderabad center will become operational in 2026 and reach full capacity servicing 300 engines per year.
It also aims to provide employment to around 1,100 people by 2035.
India is already CFM’s third largest market, with more than 400 Leap-powered aircraft in operation and around 2,000 engines on order.
First Rafale engine facility outside France
Safran also announced a dedicated MRO unit for M88 engines Which provides power to Rafale fighter planesIt is the first such facility outside France.
The 5,000 square meter site in Hyderabad is expected to handle more than 600 engine modules annually and give priority to aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force.
“This is the first time that we are setting up a facility outside France for Rafale fighter engines,” Safran CEO Olivier Andres said while speaking to reporters.
He said, “If additional Rafale fighter orders are received by the Indian Air Force, we will be committed to significantly increasing our ‘Make in India’. We will be committed to having an assembly line of critical equipment in India, of which the engines will be the most obvious.”
Increasing local manufacturing and sourcing
Safran has also signed a joint venture and cooperation agreement with Bharat Electronics Limited for the manufacturing of ‘Hammer’ air-to-surface weapon in India.
The company plans to increase sourcing from Indian suppliers fivefold from €100 million per year to €500 million by 2030, citing stronger quality and competitiveness, CNBC-TV18 previously reported.
The facility is in line with India’s broader effort to reduce dependence on foreign MRO services, a challenge where previously about 85% of such work was done overseas.