• Strengthens Indo-French Aviation Ties
  • Brings World-Class Avionics Maintenance to India

By Sangeeta Saxena

New Delhi. 21 March 2025. Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation inaugurated a new avionics  Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility, of French defence and aerospace major Thales, in Gurugram, close to Indira Gandhi International Airport. In keeping with the aim of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” “self-reliant India,” this center offers eminent Indian airlines a wide range of services including avionics component maintenance and repair.

The Minister of Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu said, “My heartfelt appreciation goes to Thales for setting up this dedicated facility in India to provide onshore MRO services to our airlines. Taking a tour of the facility and seeing it firsthand, I must say that I am deeply impressed by the meticulous planning and innovation that have gone into creating this centre. I believe the inauguration of this advanced avionics MRO centre marks a significant milestone for Indian aviation and a proud moment for Thales in India. This facility exemplifies our collective commitment to building a self-reliant India and a self-reliant aviation ecosystem under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi Ji. Thales stands out as a shining example of Indo-French collaboration, we must together leverage India’s vast talent pool and facilitate India’s rapidly growing aviation market.”

Certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in December 2024, the facility aims to provide world-class avionics maintenance and repair services to leading Indian airlines, including Air India and IndiGo. This milestone reinforces Thales’s commitment to supporting India’s growing aviation industry marks a significant investment in local capabilities, strengthening Indo-French collaboration in the aerospace sector.

Thomas Got, Vice President Aviation Global Services, Thales, said, “India’s MRO industry is set for significant growth, becoming a key region for airlines. We are proud to inaugurate our Thales Maintenance and Repair Centre in India. This highlights our localisation efforts to bring our technological and avionics repair expertise closer to airline customers. The Gurugram centre is backed by the power of a global support and services organisation, and aligns with Thales’s strategy to expand its presence in India.”

Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in India, along with top government officials and distinguished dignitaries from the French Embassy and the business joined the occasion. Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice President, Avionics, Thomas Got, Vice President, Aviation Global Services and Gilles Bono, Vice President, India, headed the Thales team.

Thales’ MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) division specializes in providing comprehensive services for avionics systems across commercial, business, and regional aviation, as well as for helicopter and military operators. Its offerings include maintenance, repair, and overhaul of avionics equipment, long-term contract maintenance agreements, spare parts supply, training programs, and integrated logistics support to ensure efficient inventory management and timely delivery of parts. With a strong global presence, Thales operates MRO facilities in various locations. As an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Thales produces a wide range of avionics components such as Helmet Mounted Displays, transponders, flight control systems, datalinks, navigation systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and flight management systems. The company is also expanding its investments in India, reinforcing its commitment to the region’s aviation industry. Additionally, Thales has strengthened its MRO cooperation with HAITE (China Eastern Airlines Technic), with its Beijing and Singapore-based facilities providing extensive support for China Eastern Airlines.

India’s MRO aviation industry is set for rapid expansion, driven by increasing passenger numbers and enhanced connectivity. The growing demand for reliable maintenance services is further supported by government initiatives, including the reduction of GST on MRO services to 5% and increased investment in infrastructure, positioning India as a global aircraft maintenance hub. The Union Budget 2024 introduced several key reforms to boost the sector, such as reducing customs duties on MRO imports, exempting duties on tools and toolkits, and expanding domestic MRO capabilities to reduce reliance on foreign services.

Additionally, aligning the MRO sector with the National Logistics Policy aims to improve turnaround times, while tax incentives and input tax credit (ITC) provisions make services more cost-effective for airlines. The uniform 5% IGST rate on all aircraft and engine parts further streamlines operations. With these reforms, the Indian MRO sector is poised for significant growth, attracting increased attention from industry players. And foreign companies find this just the right time to foray into this lucrative sector.