Safran, a French aerospace firm, has announced a significant expansion of its activities in Hyderabad, Telangana, with the formation of a new business, Safran Aircraft Engine Services India.
This new facility will be dedicated to the maintenance and refurbishment of the M88 military jet engines that power Dassault Rafale fighter jets, representing a strategic effort to bolster India’s aerospace and defense sector.
The proposal was officially revealed after a meeting between Safran’s General Manager, Pierre Fernandez, and Telangana Industries Minister, D Sridhar Babu. According to a press release from the Telangana government, the new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center is expected to create approximately 150 new jobs by the end of next year, with the potential for an additional 750 positions in subsequent phases, reflecting the project’s scope and long-term vision.
Safran already has two advanced manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad: Safran Electrical & Power India, which produces electrical harnesses for CFM LEAP engines and the Rafale fighter, and Safran Aircraft Engines Hyderabad, which specializes in rotating parts for the LEAP engine’s low-pressure turbine.
The inclusion of the M88 engine MRO facility will strengthen Hyderabad’s position as a vital hub for the manufacture, export, and repair of critical aerospace components, particularly those associated with the Rafale program.
The news comes amid increased Indo-French economic partnership, with Safran thanking the Telangana government for its consistent support. The company highlighted its participation in a roundtable discussion with a delegation of French enterprises sponsored by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasizing the significance of such collaborations in achieving Telangana’s ambitions to become India’s leading aerospace hub.
Safran’s investment is consistent with broader attempts to localize high-value defence production and support capabilities in India, as indicated by recent agreements between Dassault Aviation and TATA Advanced Systems to produce Rafale fuselage components in Hyderabad. The new MRO center is planned to play a critical role in ensuring the operational readiness of the Indian Air Force’s Rafale aircraft while also increasing local employment and technical skills.
Overall, Safran’s latest initiative not only reaffirms its commitment to India’s aerospace industry, but it also establishes Hyderabad as a crucial node in the global supply chain for advanced military aviation technologies.
