Aircraft engine manufacturer CFM plans to operationalise its India-based MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility in Hyderabad during the second half of 2025, a senior company official told businessline.
The MRO is being built with an investment of $150 million for the ‘Leap’ engines of which 400 are deployed in India. There are 2,500 ‘Leaps’ on order in India, making the country one of the largest operators of this engine type.
Notably, CFM International is a joint venture between France-based Safran and the US-headquartered GE Aerospace.
Speaking to businessline, Safran India’s Chief Executive and Country Heads J S Gavankar said, “Work is going on in full-swing, and we expect it to become operational in H2 of 2025.”
“This facility will enhance fleet uptime for Indian operators, reduce costs, and support localised engine maintenance.”
The ‘CFM56’ and ‘Leap’ engines power all Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family aircraft currently in service in India which represents more than 570 aircraft in service and more than 1,100 engines in backlog to be delivered in the coming years.
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At present, all Boeing Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX aircraft are powered by CFM engines, with a total of 140 operating in India today.
Besides, CFM also powers 385 or more than 80 per cent of Airbus A320ceo and A320neo family of aircraft currently in India.
Moreover, the joint venture is exploring partnerships with local suppliers for sourcing engine components, aligning with the “Make in India” initiative.
Leaping ahead
According to Gavankar, Safran is strengthening manufacturing and sourcing capabilities in India for CFM engines, particularly the ‘Leap’ series.
“We are actively investing in local facilities to support the production of high-precision components for these engines,” he said.
“We have established state-of-the-art manufacturing units in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, focusing on key engine parts, and plans to expand sourcing partnerships with major Indian aerospace companies in order to build a comprehensive aero engines ecosystem that will support the ‘Leap’ unprecedented ramp-up.”
Gavankar said that Safran has already set up key partnerships with HAL, PTC, Tata, Mach Aero and plans to further expand the ‘Leap’ supply-chain in India.
“These initiatives align with the “Make in India” vision, promoting indigenous manufacturing while ensuring global quality standards. By localising production, Safran aims to enhance cost efficiency, meet rising demand, and integrate India further into its global supply chain.”
