Leonardo strengthens its presence in Asia and bets on IndiaThe group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Adani Defense & Aerospace, a company of Adani Enterprises Ltd active in the defense and aerospace sector and among the major players in the sector in the country, for develop and sustain an integrated helicopter industrial ecosystem in IndiaThe aim is to meet the growing demand of the domestic military market and help New Delhi achieve self-sufficiency in production in line with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The agreement comes at a time of significant expansion in the Indian Armed Forces' requirements and aims to position India as a future global helicopter manufacturing hub, with potential spillover effects to the civilian market and the international supply chain.
From supply to local production
The industrial heart of the partnership initially concerns the Leonardo's advanced models, in particular theAW169M andAW109 TrekkerM, intended to meet the operational needs of the Indian armed forces. The collaboration includes a progressive localization of activities, with the development of dedicated industrial capabilities, robust maintenance, repair and overhaul infrastructure and comprehensive pilot training services.
The goal is building an integrated helicopter ecosystem, capable not only of serving the domestic market, but also of supporting international programs, strengthening India's role as a global manufacturing platform.
An ecosystem that promises employment and skills
The initiative is presented as a project with high economic and industrial impactThe helicopter ecosystem will be able to generate thousands of highly skilled jobs in the engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and support services sectors, helping to strengthen the country's industrial competitiveness.
By combining Leonardo's expertise in the design and construction of helicopters and Adani Defence's expertise in the defence and aerospace sectors, the partnership aims to consolidate a resilient industrial supply chain, consistent with the strategy of national self-sufficiency pursued by New Delhi.
The bet on helicopters for the next decade
The market context reinforces the strategic sense of the agreement. According to estimates cited by Adani Defence & Aerospace, the Indian armed forces will need over 1.000 helicopters in the next decade. A question that makes cthe issue of autonomous production capacity is central and industrial localization.
“With an expected requirement of over 1.000 helicopters by the Indian Armed Forces over the next decade, this partnership realises our vision of achieving autonomous manufacturing capabilities,” he said. Ashish Rajvanshi, adding that “this collaboration will enable progressive localization, strengthen the supply chain and position India as a global manufacturing base.”
Industrial value and shared vision
For Adani Defence & Aerospace, the agreement represents a key step in building a future-oriented industrial ecosystem. “This alliance with Leonardo represents a significant step in building a resilient and future-oriented helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India,” he said Jeet Adani. “Combining globally relevant expertise with our growing industrial capabilities, we will build long-term value, we will generate highly qualified employment and contribute concretely to the India's vision of becoming a global aerospace manufacturing hub, in line with the commitment towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
"We are extremely pleased to join forces with Adani to contribute to India's vision "For a progressive strengthening of its rotorcraft industry, thus allowing the country to access the advanced technologies and operational capabilities it deserves. We look forward to the next developments on this path, leveraging our complementary expertise to offer the best solutions," he commented. Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters.
Cingolani and the hiring challenge: the STEM issue
On the front of the human capital, the the question of skills remains central for Leonardo. In the heart of the National Stem Week, promoted by the Ministry of University and Research, the group together with the Leonardo Ets Foundation has spotlight on the increasingly close link between scientific disciplines, defense and security. The CEO Roberto Cingolani he recalled that “Leonardo in the last three years it has hired almost 20 thousand people, today we are 63 thousand and in the next three years another 17 thousand will probably be hired". The majority of the new hires concern technical-scientific profiles, But the difficulty in finding the required professional skills remains high.
"L 'Europe suffers a shortage of STEM figures and has lost to China and the United States,” Cingolani emphasized. “Today, China produces 4,5 million STEM graduates annually, the United States around 800, Europe around 300: it's a losing battle.”
A gap that risks weighing on industrial and technological development: "STEM people will be the future of development: we are short of them and due to the geopolitical situation we cannot source them from China."
