Adani Defence and Aerospace has entered into a strategic partnership with Italian aerospace and defence major Leonardo to establish a helicopter manufacturing base in India, marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s indigenous defence production ecosystem. The collaboration aligns with India’s push to enhance domestic manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative.

Under the partnership, the two companies will work together to assemble, manufacture, and potentially export helicopters from India, catering to both domestic requirements and international markets. The initiative is expected to focus on multi-role helicopters for military and civilian use, though specific platform details and timelines have not yet been formally disclosed.

Adani Defence and Aerospace said the tie-up will leverage Leonardo’s decades-long expertise in helicopter design, engineering, and systems integration, combined with Adani Group’s growing manufacturing infrastructure and experience in India’s defence sector. The collaboration is aimed at building a comprehensive industrial base, including supply chains, maintenance capabilities, and skill development.

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Leonardo, a global leader in aerospace, defence, and security, already has a presence in India through partnerships and supply agreements. The new arrangement is expected to deepen its footprint by enabling local production, technology transfer, and greater participation of Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises in the aerospace value chain.

The proposed helicopter manufacturing base is also expected to generate employment and boost specialised skills in advanced manufacturing, avionics, and rotorcraft systems. Industry observers view the move as strategically important as India seeks to reduce dependence on defence imports while positioning itself as a global manufacturing hub.

The announcement comes amid a broader push by the Indian government to attract global defence majors to set up production facilities in the country. With rising defence budgets and export ambitions, partnerships such as the Adani Defence–Leonardo tie-up are seen as critical to meeting long-term capability, self-reliance, and export goals in the aerospace and defence sector.

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