Days after signing a pact with Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer to set up a regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India, Adani Defence & Aerospace on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership with Italy’s Leonardo to develop a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in the country.

Adani Defence, the flagship defence and aerospace arm of Adani Enterprises, said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Leonardo to jointly develop, manufacture and sustain helicopters in India. The partnership will cater to the growing requirements of the Indian Armed Forces and aims to position India as a future hub for helicopter production.

Focus on AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters

The collaboration will initially focus on Leonardo’s AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters, and will include phased indigenisation, the establishment of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, and the development of pilot training capabilities, the company said in a release. Over time, the programme could be extended to address civil helicopter demand and support Leonardo’s global supply chain through localised industrial activities.

“Targeting the Indian Armed Forces’ requirements, particularly for Leonardo’s advanced AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters, the collaboration will deliver phased indigenisation, robust MRO capabilities and comprehensive pilot training,” the release noted.

The ecosystem is expected to have a transformative economic impact, generating thousands of high-skilled jobs across engineering, manufacturing, logistics and sustainment services, while cementing India’s position as a competitive hub for helicopter production.

1,000+ helicopters needed by Indian Armed Forces in next 10 years

Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Defence & Aerospace, said the alliance with Leonardo marks a pivotal step towards building a resilient and future-ready helicopter ecosystem in India. He added that the partnership would combine global expertise with Adani’s industrial capabilities to drive high-skill employment and support the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO, Adani Defence, said the Indian Armed Forces are projected to require more than 1,000 helicopters over the next decade, and that the partnership aligns with the group’s vision for sovereign manufacturing. He added that the collaboration would accelerate indigenisation, strengthen supply chains and establish India as a world-class production base.

Building a full-spectrum aerospace ecosystem

The helicopter pact follows Adani Defence’s agreement with Embraer, signed on January 27, 2026, to develop an integrated regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. Under that MoU, the two companies plan to collaborate on aircraft manufacturing, supply chain development, aftermarket services and pilot training.

As part of the Embraer partnership, the Gautam Adani-led group aims to establish a small-jet manufacturing facility in India, beginning with an aircraft assembly line and followed by a phased increase in indigenisation. The initiative is intended to support India’s Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) programme and aligns with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat push and the UDAN regional connectivity scheme.

The twin partnerships underscore Adani Defence’s strategy to build a comprehensive aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem spanning both fixed-wing aircraft and rotary-wing platforms. With the Embraer and Leonardo agreements, the company is expanding its footprint across multiple aerospace segments, positioning India as an emerging global hub for aircraft and helicopter manufacturing and sustainment.