Flying High

LANDMARK DEALS MARK INDIA'S AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE SECTOR AS MORE OEMS ANNOUNCE PLANS TO SET UP MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS IN INDIA.

FOR SOME TIME NOW, THE INDIAN government has been inviting international aerospace companies to set up manufacturing operations in India. The recently held Aero India show in Bengaluru helped that cause. In her inaugural remarks at the 12th edition of Aero India 2019, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman invited investors to capitalise on the ecosystem in aerospace and other sectors in India that offered a big market for defence manufacturing. Sitharaman made a strong pitch for 'Make in India" and referred to a slew of initiatives taken by the government, including permitting 100% FDI in defence manufacturing.

Since then there have been a slew of announcements from international OEMs expressing their interest in manufacturing in India. Magellan Aerospace Corp. is opening a manufacturing and assembly facility in India. The new 100,000-ft Magellan Aerospace (India) facility, constructed on seven acres in Hitech Defence and Aerospace Park (Aerospace SEZ Sector) in Devanahalli, near the Bangalore International Airport, was completed at the end of 2018 and the process of installing and commissioning the high-speed machining centres is underway. Magellan's new cellular machining and assembly plant will specialise in high-speed milling and turning of aerostructure and aeroengine components produced from both aluminium and hard metal materials. Magellan established a presence in India's aerospace sector more than a decade ago. The plant will create up to 120 high technology and support positions and will be equipped with a comprehensive range of high-speed 4- and 5-axis machining centres, selected to optimise manufacturing, competitiveness, and efficiency.