Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and France's Safran Helicopter Engines announced that they will jointly set up a helicopter engines maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre to service Indian and foreign customers using Safran’s aero engines.
The location of the centre is slated to be announced in the coming months and the companies did not disclose the investment or the equity stakes in the venture.
The centre will provide MRO services for Safran TM333 and the co-developed Shakti engines that are used in helicopters built by HAL.
D.K. Venkatesh, HAL’s Director (Engineering and R&D), and Bruno Even, CEO, Turbomeca, signed the agreement at the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, near London, according to a statement.
HAL CMD T. Suvarna Raju, who was present at the event along with Safran CEO Philippe Petitcolin, said: “The joint venture places both partners on an ambitious path towards world-beating customer support in engine MRO.”
About 1,000 Shakti engines are likely to fly on Indian helicopters in the coming years, he said.