Aviation

French Safran to set-up engine MRO in India, offers to partner AMCA project.

Safran, a major manufacturer of aircraft engines in France, is almost ready to announce MRO for commercial engines in India. As part of its offset commitments, French aircraft engine giant Safran is getting ready to announce the opening of an MRO facility in India for commercial aircraft engines with leading edge aviation propulsion (LEAP). Tomorrow when Safran CEO Olivier Andres visits Indian Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the MRO facility, said to be headquartered in either Hyderabad or Bengaluru, is expected to be announced.

The MRO state of the art facility will be established through a 100% Indian subsidiary route and will service not only the 330 engines used by Indian commercial carriers but also Service the engines from other Safran-GE joint venture nations like South Asia, West Asia, and Africa. With intentions to eventually expand into MRO of military engines used in Indian Air Force Rafale and Mirage 2000 aircraft to forward the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” agenda, SAFRAN is bringing in USD 150 million in foreign direct investment for the facility. The French business is India’s top supplier of helicopter engines and provides the M88 engines for the 26 Rafale multirole aircraft that the IAF recently acquired.

Aside from the MRO facility, the French company has also proposed to the Indian government to co – develop a brand-new, cutting-edge 110 kilo newton thrust engine with the DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) for India’s advanced medium combat aircraft twin-engine AMCA fighter project. According to a defence expert, the price per engine for 400 engines will equal between 10 and 12 million euros, which is what we currently spend for engines. If we have 6-7 squadrons, it will be for 400 engines, which is what we would need for twin engine AMCAs.

The French company believes that if the co-development process is completed this year, the new 110 KN engine may be certified by 2035. A total of five to six billion euros will be invested in co-developing the 110 KN engine. The Safran offer includes a performance guarantee and transfers all necessary technology for design, development, production, and support, in addition to developing a strong industrial aero-engine ecosystem in India. The DRDO is also considering using a GE-414 engine to power the AMCA project as a replacer.

The Kaveri aero-engine, which was first created to power Tejas LCA fighters, has been under development by the GTRE since 1996. However, as the LCA is now powered by GE-404 engines, the engine was disconnected from the Tejas programme.

Courtesy : HIndustan time source

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

American Airlines Is Looking for Flight Attendants: Apply Now

The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

Close Call at Heathrow: BA Flight Narrowly Escapes Drone Collision

China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.