India's defence MRO sector set to take off over 5 years

India's defence maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector is poised for transformative expansion over the next five years, as global aerospace giants and domestic players collaborate to establish world-class facilities.

- BHASWAR KUMAR

With companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing partnering with Indian firms like Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL), the foundation is being laid to establish India as a regional hub for military aviation maintenance.

Backed by policy reforms and a maturing industrial base, the sector's transformation over the next five years will feature new MRO facilities, increased induction of defence platforms for in-country maintenance, and a growing role of local suppliers supporting global defence original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The 'prove-it' phase Nick Smythe, director of Air Mobility and Maritime Missions International Campaigns at Lockheed Martin, describes the coming five years as a "prove-it" phase for India's defence MRO capabilities. He also notes that the recent spate of announcements in the sector by global OEMs like Dassault Aviation, Boeing, and his own company are "lagging indicators" of years of planning and effort, aligning with the government's 'Make in India' vision.

Lockheed, in partnership with TASL, plans to establish an MRO facility for the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, with the first induction for maintenance scheduled for 2027. "This is the culmination of years of work. The conversations with the Indian Air Force (IAF) go back to 2019. Initially, it was easier to send aircraft outside India for maintenance, but the industrial setup here is now mature," says Smythe. "The stable, consistent government vision allows us to do long-term planning. The number of assets and our throughput analysis justify the investments, making it clear that now is absolutely the right time to move forward. We are excited to partner with Tata to establish this capability."