MoU inked in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to boost Maharashtra’s Make in India aerospace ambitions
Mumbai, June 13, Friday: In a major boost to Maharashtra’s defence and aerospace manufacturing ambitions, Max Aerospace & Aviation Pvt Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Industries Department of Maharashtra to establish a helicopter manufacturing facility in Nagpur. The agreement was signed on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Sahyadri Guest House, Mumbai.
The upcoming project involves an investment of ₹8,000 crore over a span of eight years and is expected to generate nearly 2,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. The actual manufacturing operations are scheduled to begin in 2026. The facility will be located near Nagpur Airport, enabling it to benefit from existing infrastructure and logistics connectivity.
This will be Maharashtra’s first dedicated plant for the customisation and complete production of helicopters, and will function as a Centre of Excellence for rotary-wing platforms, including integration and flight testing. The use of international-grade aerospace technology will help strengthen India’s growing presence in the global aerospace supply chain.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly enhance Nagpur’s role in the defence production sector, aligning with the national objectives of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. He assured full support from the state government for the timely execution of the project and acknowledged Nagpur’s growing infrastructure and industrial potential.
The MoU was signed between Industries Secretary P. Anbalagan and Max Aerospace Chairman Bharat Malkani. Also present were MIDC CEO P. Velrasu, Meghna Malkani (Head of Business Development), Kirit Mehta (Chief Financial Officer), Jayesh Mehta (President), and senior advisors Neeraj Behere and Devdatt Vanare.
Speaking at the event, Bharat Malkani said that Nagpur provides a well-developed ecosystem for defence manufacturing, and the state government has extended all required support for setting up the facility. “Being a native of Maharashtra, I have chosen to bring this investment home and will work towards making the state a national leader in helicopter manufacturing,” he stated.
This public-private partnership is expected to play a transformational role in Maharashtra’s industrial landscape, while also contributing significantly to India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in defence production.
