In a landmark development for India's aviation industry, French aerospace giant Safran has inaugurated twin Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) centres in Hyderabad. This strategic move, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, positions the city as a new global hub for advanced engine servicing.
A Historic Leap for Civil Aviation
The new Safran Aircraft Aero Engine Services India (SAESI) facility is a historic milestone. It is the first deep-level global engine servicing hub built by the company outside of France. Spread across a vast 45,000 square metres with an investment of €200 million (approximately ₹2,062 crore), this centre is designed to overhaul CFM LEAP engines.
These engines are crucial, as they power the popular Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX fleets. The facility boasts a capacity to service 300 LEAP engines annually, a game-changer for Indian airlines. Previously, engines had to be sent abroad for such work, a process that took months and drove up maintenance costs significantly. With advanced test benches and robotics-assisted workshops now in Hyderabad, engine turnaround times will be drastically reduced.
Boosting Defence and Creating High-Skill Jobs
In a major push for India's defence capabilities, Safran has also begun groundwork for a separate €40 million (₹400 crore) MRO facility dedicated to M88 engines. These engines are used in the Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force. This will be the first M88 MRO located outside France.
The defence unit is projected to service 600 modules per year and employ 150 specialists, enhancing India's combat-air readiness and reducing foreign dependence for fighter engine maintenance. Safran CEO Olivier Andriès has confirmed the company's readiness for a full transfer of fighter-engine technology to India, a critical step for the indigenous AMCA fifth-generation fighter program.
On the employment front, the twin MRO projects are set to create a robust aerospace workforce. The civil aviation hub alone is expected to employ 1,100 high-skill professionals by 2035, including aerothermal engineers and avionics experts. An initial workforce of 250 will begin operations next year.
Hyderabad Emerges as India's Aerospace Capital
This investment cements Hyderabad's position as India's premier aerospace and defence destination. The state of Telangana is already home to 25 major global aerospace companies and nearly 1,500 MSMEs. The Safran project is a powerful magnet that will attract further global OEMs and open massive business opportunities for local suppliers in the Bangalore-Hyderabad corridor.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted that India's aviation fleet is growing three times faster than the global average. With nearly 85% of MRO work previously being outsourced overseas, this new domestic capacity is projected to help the Indian MRO market reach $4 billion by 2031, saving airlines millions and reducing aircraft downtime.
