Mumbai
Reliance Infrastructure is making a strong push into India’s defence aviation sector, targeting ₹5,000 crore in revenues from military aircraft upgrade programs. This marks a significant milestone, as Reliance becomes the first Indian private company to independently undertake such high-value defence projects without being an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
The company recently completed the”upgrade of 55 Dornier-228 aircraft for the Indian Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard under a ₹350 crore contract. The project, originally awarded for 37 aircraft, was expanded with an additional 18 units following the success of the initial upgrades. The program was executed in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and U.S.-based Genesys.
Reliance’s growing role in defence aviation reflects a broader trend of increasing private sector participation in strategic industries. Traditionally dominated by public sector undertakings and global OEMs, the military upgrade market is now seeing significant disruption. Experts note that aircraft often serve for 30–40 years, and lifecycle upgrades can cost up to three times the original purchase price.
Globally, the aircraft upgrade and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) market is worth over ₹5 lakh crore annually and is expected to touch ₹7 lakh crore within a decade. Reliance is also scaling up its capabilities across rotary and fixed-wing platforms and is a key partner in the Rafale Performance-Based Logistics program alongside Thales. These efforts align with India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision and position the company for global expansion and steady long-term revenues.