Adani Defence & Aerospace, the defence and aerospace arm of Adani Enterprises Limited, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Leonardo to develop, manufacture and sustain a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, the companies said on 3 February 2026. The partnership is aimed at addressing anticipated requirements of the Indian Armed Forces and supporting the development of domestic helicopter manufacturing and sustainment capabilities.
The collaboration will focus on phased indigenisation of selected helicopter platforms, establishment of maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities, and development of pilot training infrastructure in India. The programme is intended to support both military requirements and potential extensions to civil aviation and international supply chains.
The partnership will target Indian Armed Forces requirements, particularly for Leonardo’s AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters. The companies said the programme would combine Leonardo’s helicopter design and engineering capabilities with Adani Defence & Aerospace’s manufacturing, integration and lifecycle support operations in India.
The companies said the proposed ecosystem would include localised industrial activities covering manufacturing, sustainment and logistics. They added that the initiative is expected to generate employment across engineering, manufacturing, logistics and sustainment services, though no specific investment figures or timelines were disclosed.
“With the Indian Armed Forces projecting demand for over 1000 helicopters in the coming decade, this partnership realises our vision for sovereign manufacturing,” said Ashish Rajvanshi, Chief Executive Officer of Adani Defence & Aerospace. “It will accelerate indigenisation, strengthen supply chains, and establish India as a world-class production base,” he said.
Jeet Adani, Director at Adani Defence & Aerospace, said the partnership aims to build long-term industrial capability in India. “This alliance with Leonardo is a pivotal stride toward a resilient, future-proof helicopter ecosystem in India,” he said. “Merging global excellence with our industrial momentum, we will drive enduring value and high-skill employment,” he added.
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, said the company would contribute technology and operational capability to support India’s rotorcraft industry. “We look forward to making progress in this endeavour, leveraging our complementary expertise to deliver the best solutions,” he said.
Adani Defence & Aerospace is part of the Adani Group’s defence and aerospace operations and focuses on design, development, manufacturing and sustainment of platforms and systems across land, air and sea domains. Leonardo is an international aerospace, defence and security group with operations spanning helicopters, aeronautics, electronics, cyber and space, and reported consolidated revenues of EUR 17.8 billion in 2024.