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Adani Group to manufacture helicopters in India
03 Feb 2026

Adani Group and Italian aerospace giant Leonardo have announced a strategic partnership to create a comprehensive helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India.

The move is aimed at bolstering the 'Make In India' initiative and enhancing self-reliance in defense production.

The new facility will cater to military needs, especially those of the Indian Armed Forces, and contribute significantly toward India's goal of becoming self-sufficient in helicopter production.

Focus on Indian armed forces' requirements
Strategic focus

The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Adani Defence & Aerospace and Leonardo, will primarily focus on the Indian Armed Forces' requirements.

This includes Leonardo's state-of-the-art AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters.

The collaboration is set to provide phased indigenization, strong maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities as well as comprehensive pilot training facilities in India.

Addressing India's helicopter demand
Demand surge

India's helicopter penetration density is less than 250 helicopters for the country's population. The country will need around 100 helicopters every year for the next decade.

Adani Defence & Aerospace Director Jeet Adani said this partnership lays the foundation of an aviation ecosystem that caters to both civil and defense requirements.

He emphasized their shared purpose with Leonardo in building a cohesive ecosystem in India.

Helicopter demand surge in India
Vision realization

Adani Defence & Aerospace CEO Ashish Rajvanshi stressed that this partnership fulfills the vision of sovereign manufacturing.

The Indian Armed Forces expect a demand of over 1,000 helicopters in the next decade.

Leonardo Helicopters Managing Director Gian Piero Cutillo acknowledged India's potential as a major market and noted the growing demand for helicopters within its armed forces.