Safran has inaugurated its largest global LEAP engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center in Hyderabad, marking a significant expansion of its footprint in India. The ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Safran Chairman Ross McInnes, and CEO Olivier Andriès, underscores the French aerospace group’s deepening commitment to India’s civil and military aviation sectors under the “Make in India” initiative.
The new €200 million facility, slated to be operational by 2026, will serve the rapidly growing CFM LEAP engine fleet in the region, which powers Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. With a capacity for 300 engine overhauls annually, the 45,000-square-meter center will eventually employ up to 1,100 people and include an on-site training center to skill over 100 Indian technicians each year.
Simultaneously, Safran announced a dedicated €40 million MRO shop for the M88 engine that powers the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets. This 5,000-square-meter facility in Hyderabad will handle over 600 engine modules yearly and employ up to 150 personnel, prioritizing Indian defense needs while also serving export customers.
In a strategic move for defense manufacturing, Safran signed a joint venture agreement with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to produce the “Hammer” air-to-surface weapon in India, capable of integration on the Rafale and HAL Tejas aircraft.
CEO Olivier Andriès emphasized India’s critical importance, outlining ambitious goals to triple Safran’s revenue in the country to exceed €3 billion by 2030, with half generated locally. The group also plans to multiply its Indian sourcing fivefold. These announcements build on recent investments, including a new engineering center and an electronics manufacturing facility in Bangalore.
With 70 years of history in India, 18 sites, and 3,000 employees, Safran is solidifying its role as a key partner in India’s aerospace ambition, supporting both commercial growth and strategic defense autonomy.
