Rolls-Royce looks to set up MRO, aero gas turbine unit

NEW DELHI: Betting big on India, British engineering MNC Rolls-Royce plans to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit here for its engines powering aircraft, ranging from regional jets to Airbus A350s. It is open to increase its sourcing multi-fold to over $1 billion in next five years if its plans for the country's defence and power systems take off.

The two biggest things it has offered India are technology transfer to develop indigenous engines for the fifth generation advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA). And, it is "seriously exploring the opportunity for small modular reactors for civil nuclear use here" under the recently cleared Shanti (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Act 2025 that has ended public sector monopoly in the sector.

In an exclusive interaction with TOI Friday, Rolls-Royce EVP (transformation India) Sashi Mukundan said: "AI and IndiGo together have firm orders for over 100 Airbus A350s that are powered only by our engines. These planes will be delivered over the next few years and we are talking at least 220 engines and spare parts. The potential (for more wide bodies) is far greater here. As far as having an engine MRO in India goes, the question is not if but when - it is a matter of timing and that will depend on the number of engines we will have here in the next few years. We already have 100 engines in Indian civil airspace side on business jets and commercial airliners." At present, commercial aircraft engines from India are sent to Rolls-Royce MROs in Singapore and Hong Kong.

"With the full support of the UK govt, we have offered to set up an aero gas turbine complex in India where engines for military jets will be developed and in future can be for engines with dual use like civil or other engines as well. We have offered complete technology transfer into that complex in order to develop the IP where India will have the sovereignty. Our AMCA engine will be developed here and be ready for ground trials by 2032 and first flight by 2034," Mukundan said.

Just how big does India feature in the company's plans? "I am quoting my global CEO who says 'Rolls-Royce currently has three home markets - UK, US and Germany (in terms of places where the company is into all lines of its businesses).' He sees India as the fourth and next home market," he said.

If the defence and modular reactors for nuclear power plants work out, the company says it could be investing "billions of dollars" and employ over 10,000 people here. "We have been in India for 70 years now and have been developing new technologies here. We have JVs doing very well with Hindustan Aeronautics and Force Motors. Across all our verticals of power and propulsion including generators, civil & defence aircraft, and naval and land defence, we have 4,300 engines here," he said.
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