New Delhi: With the civil aviation growing at a rapid pace, French aerospace giant Thales has announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art avionics maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Gurgaon, near Delhi airport, by the first quarter of 2025.
Jean-Marc Budin, Senior Vice President for the Middle East, Africa, and India at Thales, revealed the company’s investment of multi-million euros into the project. The facility aims to enhance service efficiency for Indian airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, by offering advanced maintenance solutions for avionics systems.
“Thales is committed to supporting India in preparing for the impending large-scale aviation sector growth and transformation,” said Budin.
The Indian MRO industry is projected to reach $4 billion in turnover over the next seven years, driven by the rapid expansion of the domestic aircraft fleet, expected to surpass 1,400 aircraft within five years.
Beyond MRO, Thales is expanding its manufacturing footprint in India. The company collaborates with over 75 local suppliers engaged in diverse areas, including radar systems, software, hardware development, and airport navigational aids. Over the past five years, Thales has procured more than €900 million worth of components from India, with €242 million spent in 2023 alone, creating close to 2,000 indirect jobs.
Budin emphasised Thales’ commitment to “Make in India” and “Export from India,” aiming to integrate the local industry into global supply chains. The company also plans to double its engineering workforce in India by 2027, adding to the current 1,550 engineers working at its Noida and Bengaluru engineering competence centres. These teams are developing advanced solutions across aerospace, cybersecurity, digital identity, and defence domains.
Thales’ continued investments align with India’s rapid aviation sector growth, marked by increasing airport numbers, passenger traffic, and MRO opportunities. “Thales is a key contributor to this aviation growth story, serving airlines, airport operators, and stakeholders with cutting-edge solutions,” Budin added.
The company’s expansion underscores India’s strategic importance in the global aviation market and reinforces Thales’ commitment to driving innovation and fostering local partnerships.
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