Aviation

Safran Group makes big-ticket announcements on defence production in India.

As per source In addition to a significant joint venture with state-run aerospace behemoth HAL, French defence company Safran Group on Tuesday announced the establishment of a production plant in Hyderabad to create parts and components for advanced aviation engines with an investment of Euro 36 million. It was announced that following a meeting between Safran CEO Olivier Andries and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that the joint venture in Bengaluru will manufacture helicopter engines and that the French business will also establish an MRO facility for Indian and foreign commercial aircraft.

The LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines used in aircraft by both Indian and international commercial airlines will be serviced at the MRO facility that will be built in Hyderabad with foreign direct investment of USD 150 million. The Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH), a medium-lift helicopter currently being developed by HAL, will reportedly use the helicopter engines to be built under the joint venture.

One of the top original equipment manufacturers of advanced aviation engines for combat and commercial jets is Safran. The MRO facility would initially be able to overhaul more than 250 engines annually, according to the defence ministry.

The CEO also gave Rajnath Singh a briefing on their intention to launch Safran Aircraft Engines, Safran Electrical and Power India Private Limited, both of which will be located in Hyderabad, as well as Safran-HAL Aircraft Engines, a joint venture, in Bengaluru, this week, according to a statement from the defence ministry.

The production of rigid pipes for aviation engines, particularly helicopter engines, is the focus of the joint venture between Safran and HAL. The joint venture anticipates hiring 160 new highly qualified employees announced by the ministry, and “The CEO of Safran outlined his company’s long-term goal in co-development and co-production of advanced jet engines and transfer of technology in accordance with existing policy of the government of India.

Singh was briefed by Andries about Safran’s technological capabilities outside of aeroplane engines. India’s strategic alliance with France is extremely important to India, the defence minister noted it.
He invited to Safran for additional co-development and co-production projects in India that would support the “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.

You may benefit from all of India’s competitive advantages, such as its lower costs and abundance of skilled labour, he continued Both nations can aid in each other’s capabilities development, according to the defence minister.

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly