The company plans to strengthen its supply chain through partnerships with Indian aerospace companies.
Speak with business lineSafran Aircraft Engines President Stephane Cueille said the company’s investments in India are in line with the government’s Make in India initiative.
He noted that India has emerged as a key market for the group, both in terms of fleet growth and industry opportunities in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), supply chain and potential manufacturing activities.
On the possibility of engine production in India, Cueille said Safran Aircraft Engines is looking to strengthen its investments through the establishment of new manufacturing sites to meet the increase in demand for commercial and military aircraft.
Moreover, the company plans to strengthen its supply chain through partnerships with Indian aerospace companies.
Main suppliers
It currently has contracts with around 25 key suppliers including Tata Group, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, PTC Industries, Teal, Maini Group and Mach Aero.
Moreover, Cueille pointed out that if additional orders for Rafale fighters come from the Indian Air Force, Safran would commit to significantly increasing its presence in India, including bringing the M88 engine assembly line to the country, depending on the size of the order.
Currently, Safran Aircraft Engines has made major investments in the Indian aviation ecosystem.
In 2025, the company opened its largest maintenance, repair and overhaul center in the world for the CFM International LEAP engine in Hyderabad with an investment of €200 million.
Full capacity
The facility, spread over 45,000 square meters, is expected to be commissioned soon in 2026 and is expected to handle 300 store visits annually at full capacity.
In addition, Safran Aircraft Engines has announced a new MRO facility for the M88 engine used on the Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter aircraft, which is the first such facility outside France.
The 5,000 square meter location requires an investment of more than €40 million and will provide services for more than 600 engine modules annually.
According to Cueille, Safran Aircraft Engines has launched a €1 billion investment plan to support the global ramp-up of ‘LEAP’ engine maintenance capacity, with the Indian facility forming a key part of this strategy.
He cited that India is currently the third largest market for CFM, with more than 500 CFM-powered aircraft from five Indian airlines and orders for 2,000 LEAP engines.
Network capacity
Cueille said the Hyderabad facility is expected to account for 25 percent of Safran Aircraft Engines’ global MRO network capacity and a substantial percent of global demand.
He added that India will play a strategic role in Safran’s global MRO activities, complementing its existing facilities in Malaysia, Singapore, China and the United Arab Emirates.
Moreover, Cueille said India is well positioned to evolve into a regional MRO hub given its scale, infrastructure and geographic location.
Overall, the MRO will primarily serve domestic airlines, while also supporting airlines from neighboring countries.
Published on January 9, 2026
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