India's HAL To Produce Key LEAP Engine Components Under New Agreement With French Aerospace Giant Safran

In a move that significantly strengthens India’s role in the global aerospace supply chain, French jet engine major Safran Aircraft Engines has signed a new agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the industrial production of rotating parts for the LEAP engine.

The deal, announced at the 55th Paris Air Show, aligns with Modi government's “Make in India” policy and builds on earlier agreements between the two companies, including a February 2024 contract for forged parts and a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2023.

With this step, Safran has now entrusted HAL with the production of Inconel parts—high-strength, heat-resistant nickel-chromium-based superalloy used in critical engine sections.

“We are really proud to expand this long-standing partnership with Safran and to develop our industrial expertise in forging processes for Inconel parts for the LEAP program”, said D K Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL.

“This industrial cooperation is part of our roadmap to diversify our production sourcing and strengthen our industrial footprint in India, so as to support the growth of domestic air traffic with our LEAP engine and prepare for future requirements of the M88 engine powering the Rafale," said Dominique Dupuy, Safran Aircraft Engines’ Purchasing VP.

The LEAP engine, developed by CFM International (a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace), powers most single-aisle aircraft today, including the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.

Over 75 per cent of India’s commercial aircraft fleet uses CFM engines, and more than 370 planes operated by Indian carriers already fly with LEAP engines.

With over 2,000 LEAP engines on order from Indian airlines, demand is set to surge.

Safran is actively investing in India to support this growth. It already runs five facilities across Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Goa.

A sixth, focused on LEAP engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), will open in Hyderabad by the end of this year.

In 2022, Safran and HAL also launched a joint venture in Bengaluru to manufacture components for both the LEAP and M88 engines.

The latest agreement expands this civil-military collaboration, which has gained strategic importance amid India’s focus on self-reliance in defence and aviation manufacturing.

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