Adani Defence & Aerospace, the flagship defence and aerospace arm of Adani Enterprises Ltd announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Leonardo, the global leader in defence, aerospace, and security. This landmark partnership will establish a fully integrated helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, addressing surging military demands and propelling the nation toward self-reliance in helicopter production.

The Memorandum of Understanding was formalised with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in attendance, underlining New Delhi's push to deepen indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities. Italy's Ambassador to India, Antonio Enrico Bartoli, noted that the agreement is a continuation of the defence cooperation framework established in 2023 and the Joint Strategic Action Plan endorsed by the two Prime Ministers, which identifies defence and space as central pillars of the Italy–India strategic partnership.

Targeting the Indian Armed Forces' requirements, particularly for Leonardo's advanced AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters, the collaboration will deliver phased indigenization, robust maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and comprehensive pilot training.

By fusing Leonardo's world-class helicopter design and engineering prowess with Adani Defence's end-to-end defence and aerospace expertise, the initiative advances the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, strengthens national defence readiness, with the potential to be extended to civil aviation applications and international supply chain integration.

This ecosystem promises transformative economic impact - thousands of high-skill jobs in engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and sustainment services, while cementing India as a competitive hub for helicopter production.

Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Defence & Aerospace, stated, "This alliance with Leonardo is a pivotal stride toward a resilient, future-proof helicopter ecosystem in India. Merging global excellence with our industrial momentum, we will drive enduring value, high-skill employment, and alignment with Atmanirbhar Bharat to position India as a global aerospace powerhouse."

Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO, Adani Defence & Aerospace, added, "With the Indian Armed Forces projecting demand for over 1000 helicopters in the coming decade, this partnership realizes our vision for sovereign manufacturing. It will accelerate indigenization, strengthen supply chains, and establish India as a world-class production base."

Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director, Leonardo Helicopters, affirmed, "We're extremely pleased to join forces with Adani to provide our contribution to India's vision for an even stronger and growing role of their rotorcraft industry, and to enable the country to access the level of modern technology and operational capability it deserves. We look forward to making progress in this endeavour, leveraging our complementary expertise to deliver the best solutions."

This strategic partnership redefines India's aerospace landscape, strengthening defence autonomy and position the country as a trusted global hub for helicopter manufacturing and sustainment.