Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI) has entered into a strategic collaboration with India’s Apogee Aerospace to introduce and industrialise the Albatross 2.0 amphibious aircraft platform in India, covering defence, government and selected civil aviation applications. The partnership includes aircraft supply, systems integration, manufacturing, maintenance and training, and positions India as a potential base for long-term amphibious aircraft production and support.
AAI, an Australian manufacturer of amphibious aircraft for civil and military use, will work with Apogee Aerospace as its exclusive authorised representative for the Indian subcontinent in the restricted category, covering defence and government requirements. As part of the agreement, Apogee has placed an order for 15 Albatross 2.0 aircraft, representing an estimated programme value of INR 35 billion.
The collaboration spans maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and capability development, simulation, and end-to-end systems integration for the militarisation of the aircraft. The partners also plan to establish tail-section manufacturing in India to support AAI’s global supply chain.
The Albatross 2.0 is certified under Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency standards in the transport category and is approved for registered passenger transport operations. The aircraft can carry up to 28 passengers and is the only FAA- or EASA-certified transport-category amphibious aircraft above 19 seats currently available.
Beyond the aircraft order, Apogee Aerospace plans to invest up to INR 5 billion to establish manufacturing, maintenance and overhaul facilities, training and simulation infrastructure, and advanced systems integration capabilities in India. The investments are intended to support both civilian and military variants of the aircraft and form part of a broader localisation effort.
Gopi Reddy, president and chief executive of Amphibian Aerospace Industries, said the first Albatross 2.0 aircraft is expected to enter the Indian market within the next 18 to 24 months.
AAI executive chairman Khoa Hoang said the company’s long-term objective was to establish a full Albatross manufacturing and assembly line in India. “Negotiations and planning for setting up the assembly line are going on,” he said. AAI currently operates a manufacturing facility in the United States.
The partnership comes as India increases its focus on seaplane operations for coastal and island connectivity. In the Union Budget for 2026–27, the government proposed a Viability Gap Funding scheme to support the localisation and operation of seaplanes. Amphibious aircraft are also being positioned for roles in maritime surveillance, disaster response and island development.
Apogee Aerospace has already invested about INR 650 million in Amphibian Aircraft Holdings, AAI’s parent company, indicating a long-term strategic alignment between the two companies.
Apogee Aerospace, led by MVN Sai, is an Indian aerospace and defence company focused on advanced aviation platforms, systems integration and lifecycle support for defence, government and strategic civil applications. Amphibian Aerospace Industries is a global aerospace original equipment manufacturer specialising in certified amphibious aircraft for military, civil, private and government use.
