Hyderabad — French aerospace giant Safran is setting up its first overseas Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) centre in Hyderabad for the M88 engines used in India’s Rafale jets. The facility, under the new entity Safran Aircraft Engine Services India, is expected to enhance Rafale jet readiness and support India’s defence infrastructure.
Boosting Engine Support and Local Manufacturing
Safran’s Hyderabad MRO will handle the Rafale’s M88 engine and support existing facilities for LEAP turbofan engines. It will employ about 150 engineers by 2026 and expand by 750 more in subsequent phases. This complements Safran’s existing plants in the region, which already produce electrical harnesses and rotating turbine parts.
Moving operations locally will improve turnaround times for fighter jet maintenance. This will significantly increase the Indian Air Force’s operational availability of Rafales and streamline mission readiness.
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Strategic Impact on Defence and Aerospace Hub
The facility is projected to reinforce Hyderabad’s position as a major aerospace and defence hub. Beyond servicing military engines, it will support export opportunities, servicing M88 engines globally. The move creates high-skilled jobs and deepens India–France industrial cooperation.
India’s acquisition of Rafale-Marine jets for its aircraft carriers further highlights the importance of local engine support infrastructure. This MRO centre is a major step toward “Make in India” and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals in defence manufacturing.
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