PM Modi opens Safran engine plant, boosting Hyderabad industry.
Hyderabad’s new Safran engine facility, opening 2026, promises big boost to India’s growing aviation strength and technical capabilities.
Hyderabad marked a major milestone in India’s aviation journey on Wednesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated Safran’s new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for LEAP aircraft engines. The announcement brought a wave of excitement across the industry, not just for its scale, but for what it represents: a growing confidence in India’s ability to become a global centre for aerospace engineering and high-precision aviation technology.
The facility—Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI)—is scheduled to become operational in 2026. Once up and running, it will significantly boost India’s indigenous capabilities at a time when the country’s aviation sector is expanding faster than almost anywhere else in the world. Domestic airlines have together placed orders for more than 1,500 new aircraft, a number unheard of even a decade ago. This surge has created an urgent need for world-class engine servicing and maintenance capabilities within India, rather than relying on overseas facilities.
Safran’s decision to set up the plant in Hyderabad comes with an investment of Rs 1,300 crore. The focus of the facility will be the advanced LEAP engines—short for Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion—which power some of the world’s most widely used commercial aircraft, including the Airbus A320neo family and the Boeing 737 MAX. These engines are known for being fuel-efficient, quieter, and far more environmentally friendly compared to previous generations.
LEAP engines are manufactured by CFM International, a 50:50 joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines of France and GE Aerospace of the United States. As the popularity of A320neos and 737 MAX aircraft continues to grow, so does the need for specialised MRO facilities capable of handling these complex engines. Until now, Indian airlines often had to send engines abroad for major maintenance work—causing delays, higher costs, and logistical challenges. The new facility in Hyderabad aims to change that.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the SAESI facility has been designed to handle up to 300 LEAP engines every year once it reaches peak operational capacity by 2035. By that time, it will employ more than 1,000 highly skilled Indian technicians and engineers. This influx of talent and opportunity is expected to contribute significantly to the local ecosystem, encouraging more young engineers to specialise in aviation technologies.
The GMR Aerospace Park in Hyderabad, which hosts the new Safran facility, called the development a “historic milestone.” The park has emerged as a rapidly growing aerospace hub, attracting global OEMs and aviation companies with its modern infrastructure, logistics support, and conducive business environment. With the addition of Safran’s largest Indian engine MRO centre, Hyderabad is now firmly on the map as one of the world’s leading destinations for aviation maintenance and engineering.
The GMR team highlighted how the ecosystem at the park has grown over the years. What began as a small cluster has evolved into a comprehensive aerospace campus offering airframe MRO, precision engineering, manufacturing capabilities, logistics, and industrial infrastructure—all under one umbrella. This has made it an attractive base for both commercial aviation companies and the Indian defence sector, which increasingly rely on sophisticated engines and equipment requiring reliable local support.
For India, the opening of this facility is more than an industrial development—it is a strategic step in strengthening self-reliance in critical aviation technologies. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that the project aligns perfectly with the government’s Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. As India seeks to reduce dependence on foreign facilities and accelerate its rise as a global aerospace hub, investments like Safran’s play a central role.
The impact of the facility will be felt across multiple layers of the aviation ecosystem. Airlines will benefit from shorter turnaround times and lower costs. Engineers will have access to high-end training and employment. The local economy will see new opportunities in high-skill manufacturing and technology. And for India as a whole, the move signals a growing recognition from global giants that the country is ready to take on advanced roles in the aviation industry.
As Hyderabad celebrates this major leap, the message is clear: India’s aviation ambitions are soaring higher than ever, and the world is beginning to take notice.