GE, Tata Establish Aero-engine Centre In India

GE and Tata group, India’s leading global enterprise, today established a Structural Center of Excellence (COE) focused on development of aero-engine components, located in Hyderabad, South India.

The COE will incorporate latest technologies from GE and best manufacturing practices to deliver complex high precision aero-engine components to the world’s fastest-selling jet engine, the CFM LEAP engine. This is part of the strategic partnership signed in November 2017 between GE Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to join forces for manufacturing, assembling, integration and testing of aircraft components.

“Tata group’s partnership with GE will boost the domestic manufacturing expertise, and enhance the capabilities of the group in the global aerospace industry. We look forward to developing a resilient ecosystem through this collaboration that will help both companies to strengthen manufacturing expertise in the country,” said Banmali Agrawala, President, Infrastructure and Defence & Aerospace, Tata Sons. “This investment will create highly skilled jobs and develop a high-end supply chain that will offer a globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem in India.”

“Both GE and Tata have a long and distinguished history of delivering on commitments to help customers solve some of their toughest challenges. The collaboration between the two companies will deliver results for India’s aerospace and defence industry which will be unmatched”, said Vishal Wanchoo, President and CEO for GE South Asia. “Through our technology centres in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, GE has developed high-tech research capabilities in India. Combining GE’s R&D capability with state of the art manufacturing within Tata’s new facility in Hyderabad is a significant step forward in building indigenous capability for the Indian aerospace industry."

The agreement for manufacturing of LEAP components and establishment of TASL as a COE provides the opportunity for TASL to expand into other GE product lines in both commercial and military engines in the future. GE military engines have a strong history in India. GE currently provides the jet engines and marine gas turbines for many Indian military applications including the Air Force Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas Mk 1, Indian Navy P-8I aircraft, and P-17 Shivalik class frigates.  Several military programs under development that include the Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas Mk 2, P-17A & P-71 ships, and the AH-64 attack helicopters will be powered by GE engines.