British engineering major Rolls-Royce is exploring the establishment of a civil aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the country’s rapidly expanding aviation sector. The company highlighted growing demand for engine support services, particularly as Indian carriers such as Air India and IndiGo have placed orders for more than 100 Airbus A350 aircraft powered exclusively by Rolls-Royce engines. At present, commercial aircraft engines from India are serviced at facilities in Singapore and Hong Kong, making a domestic MRO facility a strategic opportunity for strengthening India’s aerospace ecosystem. Rolls-Royce has also proposed setting up an aero gas turbine complex in India with complete technology transfer support to help develop indigenous jet engine capabilities. The facility would initially focus on military aircraft engines and could later be expanded for dual-use and civil aviation applications. The proposal is aligned with India’s efforts to strengthen domestic aerospace manufacturing, reduce import dependence and enhance technological self-reliance in advanced propulsion systems.
The company is also evaluating opportunities in India’s civil nuclear energy sector, including the potential deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) following recent policy reforms. Rolls-Royce indicated that India is emerging as a key strategic market across aerospace, defence, power systems and advanced engineering. The proposed gas turbine complex could support the development of engines for future indigenous defence programmes, including the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with ground trials targeted by 2032 and a first flight by 2034. Rolls-Royce currently operates across multiple sectors in India and has long-standing partnerships and joint ventures with companies including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Force Motors. The company noted that future opportunities in aerospace, defence and nuclear energy could result in investments worth billions of dollars and create more than 10,000 jobs in the country. These initiatives are expected to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for advanced manufacturing, aerospace engineering and clean energy technologies.
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