&w=3840&q=100)
Safran to build Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul facility for Rafale fighter jet engines in Hyderabad
Rafale fighter jet is seen parked on the tarmac during its induction ceremony at an air force station in Ambala, India, September 10, 2020. File Image/Reuters
French aerospace company Safran Aircraft Systems announced Wednesday (June 25) it will build a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Hyderabad for the M88 turbofan engines that power Rafale fighter jets.
The new MRO shop will be the first of its kind outside France dedicated to servicing M88 engine modules. It is expected to handle more than 600 modules annually and create up to 150 jobs by 2040, Safran said in a statement.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The announcement comes shortly after Dassault Aviation partnered with Tata Advanced Systems Limited to manufacture Rafale fighter jet fuselages in Hyderabad. The move is part of India's recently signed Rs 63,887 crore (nearly 7 billion euros) inter-governmental agreement to procure 26 Rafale Marine jets, the naval variant of the aircraft.
The deal includes provisions for setting up domestic production and maintenance infrastructure for engines, sensors, and weapons.
India is set to receive the Rafale-M jets between 2028 and 2030 under the agreement, which aims to deepen defense industrial cooperation between New Delhi and Paris.
India had earlier inducted 36 Rafale jets into its air force in a separate Rs 59,000 crore deal. With the additional 26 aircraft for the navy, the Rafale has emerged as the leading contender in India's long-delayed plan to acquire 114 multirole fighter aircraft through foreign collaboration.
The program, initially estimated at Rs 1.25 lakh crore, is being expedited by the Indian government.
India's vast potential as regional MRO hub
India's potential as a regional MRO hub stems in large part from its strategic geographical location. Positioned between Europe and Southeast Asia, India is ideally situated to serve as a transit and servicing point for aircraft flying between West Asia, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. This centrality makes it an attractive option for airlines looking for logistical efficiency in aircraft maintenance without long diversions.
Another core advantage lies in cost competitiveness. Labour costs in India are lower than those in Western countries, and yet the country offers a large pool of highly trained engineers and technicians. This makes high-quality servicing both feasible and economical, especially for global carriers seeking to optimise their MRO budgets.
India's growing aviation sector further strengthens the case for a robust domestic MRO ecosystem. Now the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world, India has more than 750 commercial aircraft in service. This number is expected to double to over 1,500 by the end of the decade. With such rapid fleet expansion, Indian carriers are increasingly in need of local MRO support. Additionally, military aviation needs are also rising, with platforms like the Rafale, C-295, and HAL Tejas Mk1A entering service.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The Indian government has also taken active steps to make the MRO sector more attractive. It has allowed 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the segment and reduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on MRO services from 18 percent to 5 percent in 2020. Airport operators have been directed to offer land for MRO facilities at concessional rates, and defence offset obligations are now being tied more closely to building MRO capacity within the country.
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
26 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: India must not bend the knee before Trump's tariffs
Hello, and welcome to the Best of BS Opinion, our distilled wrap of today's Opinion page. Our lead columnist Shyam Saran makes a forceful case for standing up to the United States' geopolitical arm-twisting using tariffs as leverage. Not resisting now will lead to bigger demands in the future, he warns, and could had long-term consequences for India's national security, credibility, and influence. There will certainly be a price to pay, and India should be prepared, not by closing off its economy but by making it more outward-looking. As it is, the US' tariffs will only have a modest impact on India's GDP, a price the country should be willing to pay. In fact, he says, India should follow its Look East policy more vigorously because that region wants India to be a counterweight to China. It should also become part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, where currently neither China nor the US is present. Insulating the nation from the vagaries of Trump's policies may be best served by this initiative, he says. It is not easy steering Indian democracy in live action: witness the often-raucuous scenes that play out on our screens when Parliament is in session. Yet, it is a role that Harivansh Narayan Singh has in the past played to near-perfection, writes Aditi Phadnis. As deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, he was unerringly fair, always putting principle over party. It also helped that he was unfailingly polite. A former journalist who is credited with the turnaround of Bihar Prabhat, his politics hewed close to former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, who was a major political influence in his life. With the Vice President's position falling empty with Jagdeep Dhankhar's abrupt resignation, political circles are abuzz with names of likely candidates for the second-highest position in the republic. It is no surprise that Singh's name is among them - a win would redefine his political career. India, and the rest of the world, is trying to figure Donald Trump out so as to survive him until the midterm elections in the US two years from now. Before that, India must look find ways to protect itself from his monumental irrationality. But first, we must also look within at the bipolarity within the Indian 'establishment' - which encompasses government and its multi-faceted support base, including social media and TV studio experts, write Shekhar Gupta. From being euphoric about our closeness to the US and India finally gaining its rightful place at the world table, the Indian establishment is now reverting to Cold War-level suspicion of Uncle Sam and playing hurt victim. The other element of bipolarity exists within the establishment itself, he points out: even as the Prime Minister and others are acting quietly and prudently, working the levers behind the stage, the support base is the exact opposite, in a constant state of anger and hurt. There is something about nostalgia that makes us want to revisit the past, no matter how long ago. We all go back at least once to our school or college or hostel, just to soak in our memories one more time. The recent box-office success of Indian movies upon a re-release seems to prove that point. Sandeep Goyal pulls on that thread and wonders if a rerun of brand campaigns that have had a successful first innings would work the second time around. Recalling some of India's most iconic ad campaigns - Gold Spot's 'The Zing Thing', Parle's 'Melody itni chocolatey kaise bani', and Tata Sky's 'Isko laga daala to life jhinga-la-la, to name just a few - he bats for a second coming of such memorable ads. There are caveats, though: Tinkering with the original might backfire spectacularly, as Cadbury's gender-reversed re-run of Dairy Milk showed. Chintan Girish Modi, pens a heartfelt ode - ironically, in prose - to the legendary Eunice de Souza, poet extraordinaire and teacher at the equally famous St Xavier's College in Mumbai. August 1, when this column was written, is also de Souza's birthday and is commemorated by the college as Poetry Day, a rare incidence of anyone celebrating either a poet or a teacher, or as in this case, both. Modi recites parts of her poems, and is struck by her distinctive voice, and even more by her freedom with - and within - the language, unencumbered by the need for obscure allusions and pretentious references.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
26 minutes ago
- First Post
Trump sacks labour statistics chief hours after job report showed a grim image
US President Donald Trump fired the federal government official who is in charge of the Labour statistics. The sacking came just hours after US job data revealed that the employment growth stalled this summer read more A sign advertising job openings is seen while people walk into the store in New York City, New York, U.S., August 6, 2021. Reuters File US President Donald Trump fired the federal government official who is in charge of Labour statistics. What was concerning was the fact that the news of the official's sacking came just hours after US job data revealed that the employment growth stalled this summer, prompting accusations that he is 'firing the messenger'. Soon after the White House made the firing official, the president claimed that Erika McEntarfer, commissioner of labour statistics, had 'faked' employment figures in the run-up to last year's election. Trump accused McEntarfer of forging numbers in a bid to boost former US Vice President Kamala Harris's chance of victory in the 2024 US Presidential Elections. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dimayed by the latest figures, Trump went on to claim: 'Today's Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad'. However, he gave no evidence to support his allegations and insisted that the US economy was, in fact, 'BOOMING' on his watch. US Job report paints a grim picture On Friday, the US employment report raised questions about the state of the labour market since Trump's return to the office. 'We need accurate job numbers,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified.' Shortly after the report was released, the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) confirmed in a brief statement that McEntarfer had been dismissed and William Wiatrowski, the agency's deputy commissioner, would serve as acting commissioner. It is pertinent to note that Trump's abrupt announcement came as administration officials scrambled to explain a lacklustre employment report. Not only did job growth in the country fail to meet expectations in July, but the previous estimates in May and June were also revised significantly lower. The president went on to accuse the bureau of trying to hide accurate statistics. However, his move garnered criticism among experts. 'Trump is firing the messenger because he doesn't seem to like job numbers that reflect how badly he's damaged the economy,' said Lily Roberts, managing director for inclusive growth at the Centre for American Progress, a think tank. 'Politicising our country's collection of data on what's going on in the economy … will make it harder to create an economy that makes sure everyone has a good job,' added Roberts. 'Borrowing from the authoritarian playbook fuels more uncertainty that will cost Americans for years to come.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Paul Schroeder, executive director of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics, described the president's allegation as 'very damaging and outrageous'. 'Not only does it undermine the integrity of federal economic statistics, but it also politicises data which needs to remain independent and trustworthy. This action is a grave error by the administration and one that will have ramifications for years to come," he added. The veteran who was dismissed It is pertinent to note that McEntarfer is a widely respected economist and veteran employee of the federal government. In the past, she had worked at the US Census Bureau under George W Bush and at the US Census Bureau under Barack Obama, Trump and Joe Biden. In January 2024, McEntarfer was confirmed to the post by the US Senate. In a letter also signed by organisations including the American Statistics Association and a string of senior economists, they said there were 'many reasons' to confirm McEntarfer as commissioner of labour statistics, citing her 'wealth of research and statistical experience'. She was ultimately confirmed by a vote in the Senate, with 86 votes cast in favour and eight against. Trump's decision to fire McEntarfer was 'outrageous but not surprising', said Julie Su, former acting US labour secretary under Biden. 'He hates facts, so he blames truth-tellers.' 'The US needs and deserves trustworthy economic data', added Su. 'This is a pathetic attempt by the president to gaslight everyone about the consequences of his disastrous economic policies.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Cricketer Rinku Singh removed as SVEEP icon over ‘neutrality concerns'
LUCKNOW The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed Indian cricketer Rinku Singh from the voter awareness campaign - SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) - in Uttar Pradesh. Rinku Singh was engaged to Samajwadi Party MP from Machhlishahr Lok Sabha constituency Priya Saroj on June 8. (File Photo) Due to his popularity among youths, Singh was included in the campaign as a youth icon to motivate voters. But on Friday, the UP chief electoral officer (CEO) directed district administration officers across UP to remove all publicity material, including posters, videos and photos from websites, featuring Singh. Singh was engaged to Samajwadi Party MP from Machhlishahr Lok Sabha constituency Priya Saroj on June 8. Top SP leaders including party chief Akhilesh Yadav attended the ceremony organised in Lucknow. 'After the engagement, Singh is associated with a political person. The icon engaged in the voter awareness campaign should remain apolitical and neutral, in both spirit and practice. The decision to remove Singh has been taken to maintain impartiality in the awareness campaign,' said an officer from the CEO office. Though Rinku Singh had not made any political statement or expressed intent to join politics after engagement with Priya Saroj, but ECI rules clearly state that any perceived political connection is sufficient ground for removal of the icon from an official public outreach initiative, the officer said. Political circles were abuzz with reaction over the ECI's decision, with some terming it as a fair decision by the poll panel and others saying that even after engagement with a politician, Singh did not indulge in politics. However, there was no comment from Rinku Singh or Priya Saroj over the ECI's decision. Rinku Singh shot into the limelight following his remarkable performance when he hit five consecutive sixes in an over during an IPL match, which gave a thrilling victory to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Gujarat Titans in 2023. KKR had retained Singh for ₹13 crore in the recently concluded IPL. Appointment as BSA doubtful? Meanwhile, the cricketer's appointment as basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) in UP also seemed to be in for a problem after reports that the basic education department, UP, had put his file on hold. Even when Rinku's name figured for the post of BSA netizens took to social media questioning his educational qualifications. Authorities from the basic education department neither confirmed nor rubbished the news of cancellation of Rinku's appointment as BSA. Principal secretary (sports) Manish Chauhan said the file was sent to the basic education department and he had no idea what happened thereafter. Director, basic education, Pratap Singh Baghel said he too had no information and pleaded ignorance on developments on over Rinku's appointment. Another official said the state government is committed to the development of facilities for sports and encouragement of sportspersons. In the last eight years, on one hand, sports infrastructure has been developed at the rural level, while on the other hand, medal winning players are being given respectable prize money along with government jobs. UP remains the leading state in the country in terms of giving government jobs to players who have raised the prestige of the country and state through sports at the international level, he said.
