The AE2100 engine powers 12 C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
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RAVINDRAN R
Buoyed by India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Rolls-Royce is exploring setting up of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India for the AE2100 engine, to support and sustain the fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The AE2100 engine powers 12 C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Rolls-Royce in a statement on Thursday also stated that it’s looking to accelerate aerospace and defence engagement with India.
Speaking about expansion plans, Abhishek Singh, Senior Vice President – Defence (India and South-East Asia), Rolls-Royce said, “we have a strong legacy in India, and we look forward to strengthening our in-country capabilities alongside the strong framework for bilateral collaboration set out by the CETA and the UK-India Vision 2035 roadmap.”
“We are exploring potential opportunities to set up an MRO for the AE2100 engine operated by the IAF, and to further scale the partnership for assembly and testing for the multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) programme,” he emphasised.
Co-develop propulsion tech
The growing bilateral dialogue between the two countries creates the right environment for Rolls-Royce to explore closer collaboration with Indian partners on defence, technology and innovation to co-develop power and propulsion technologies for India and the world, said Singh.
“We see India not just as a growth market, but as a strategic partner for co-development, innovation and capability-building. This next chapter, under the defence industrial roadmap, is about creating the right frameworks to deepen a partnership built on trust, talent, and technology,” he added.
Rolls-Royce had recently announced its intent to double its sourcing from India over the next five years, including for complex aero engine parts.
The leading British aero-engine manufacturer said, today, more than 3,000 people work across the country, including 2,000 highly-skilled engineers and global business services experts.
It’s has joint ventures with Hindustan Aerospace Limited (HAL) and Force Motors, as well as long-standing manufacturing partnerships with organisations like HAL, Tata, Godrej & Boyce, Bharat Forge, and others.
Published on August 7, 2025
