Safran has significantly expanded its industrial presence in India through two landmark agreements that underscore New Delhi's commitment to defense sovereignty. The French aerospace giant will co-develop a new engine for India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft stealth fighter alongside the Defence Research and Development Organisation, with full technology transfer and Indian intellectual property retention.
Natilus, a US start-up, has partnered with Indian carrier SpiceJet to launch blended-wing aircraft in India. The partnership aims to help Natilus gain certification in India and secure an order of 100 Horizon aircraft.
AeroTime reports that IndiGo has welcomed its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft, becoming India's first operator of this type. The airline ordered 69 more A321XLRs from Airbus as part of its successive mega-orders.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, has cancelled all domestic flights from Delhi Airport as an unprecedented operational crisis enters its fourth day. The disruption, affecting over 1,000 flights across major Indian cities, stems from crew shortages and recent Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rule implementations by aviation regulators.
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined IndiGo $2.6 million following a December 2025 operational meltdown that left over 300,000 passengers stranded. The regulator also warned top managers and required the airline to deposit $6 million into the 'IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme'.
The Indian Navy will receive its first four Rafale M carrier-based fighters by 2029, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi announced, marking a significant modernization of India's naval aviation. The €7.
A chartered Bombardier Learjet 45 carrying Ajit Pawar, Indian Deputy Chief Minister, crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airfield on January 28, 2026. The aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures, was cleared for a second landing but went down short of the runway.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has denied media reports linking a recent Indian Air Force (IAF) decision to conduct precautionary checks on its Tejas fleet to a crash. According to HAL, the incident in question was a minor technical incident on ground and not an aircraft loss.
An Indian Air Force HAL Tejas light combat aircraft crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow 2025 on November 21, 2025. Video from the venue showed the aircraft losing altitude before impact.
The Indian Army has selected BAE Systems Hägglunds' BvS-10 for its next all-terrain tracked vehicle under the 'Make in India' initiative. Larsen & Toubro will be responsible for manufacturing the vehicles at their Armoured Systems Complex facility in Hazira, India.
India and France are nearing a major deal for 114 Rafale fighters ahead of French President Macron's visit in February 2026. The Indian Air Force is examining a government-to-government framework that would combine a large order with expanded local manufacturing, including a partnership between HAL and Safran for an engine production plant.
India's civil aviation regulator has cleared the fuel control switch design on Boeing 787 Dreamliners after a pilot report raised safety concerns. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found no systemic defect in the switches, and Air India confirmed that a subsequent fleet-wide re-inspection of fuel switches found no defects.
India has approved a $39 billion purchase of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France, in an effort to bolster its air force capabilities. The deal comes after years of negotiations and was backed by the Defense Acquisition Council on February 12, 2026.
Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on November 23, 2025, for the first time in approximately 12,000 years, sending ash clouds 10-15 kilometers into the atmosphere. The volcanic ash rapidly spread eastward across the Arabian Peninsula and into South Asia, reaching India's major metropolitan areas and triggering significant air travel disruptions.
Emirates SkyCargo is expanding its cargo capacity to India with two additional weekly freighter aircraft starting in March 2026. The airline will launch new service to Mumbai and Ahmedabad, alongside a direct route to Dhaka.
Embraer has entered into a strategic partnership with Adani Defence & Aerospace to develop an integrated regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. According to AeroTime, this project aims to establish an assembly line for Embraer regional aircraft in the country.
Embraer is expanding its supply chain operations in India as part of its Asia-Pacific strategy. The company recently concluded an executive visit to assess potential suppliers across key aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
Embraer Defense & Security and the Mahindra Group plan to work toward establishing a maintenance, repair and overhaul capability in India for the C-390 Millennium. The proposed facility would be pursued if the C-390 is selected under the Medium Transport Aircraft program, according to a joint announcement on February 19, 2026.
Embraer and Adani Defence & Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the setup of an E175 final assembly line in India. The two companies aim to produce regional jets in India, with Embraer estimating that India will need around 500 aircraft in the 80-146-seat range over the next two decades.
Dassault Aviation has partnered with Reliance Group to manufacture Falcon 2000 Business Executive Jets in India, marking the first time the company will produce these jets outside France. The partnership reflects Dassault Aviation's commitment to 'Make in India' and contributes to the recognition of India as a major partner in the global aerospace supply chain.
Air India has opened its first flagship lounge, 'The Maharaja', at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi. Designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), the lounge features updated interiors and curated artwork reflecting Indian cultural themes.
Air India is facing a record $1.6 billion annual loss after a fatal Boeing 787-8 crash in June 2025, according to Bloomberg. The carrier had hoped to break even by March 31, 2026, but was forced to cut services and inspect its entire Dreamliner fleet following the tragedy.
Air India Express will launch operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport on Christmas Day 2025, offering daily flights to Bengaluru and Delhi. The low-cost carrier joins other major Indian airlines in inaugurating services from India's newest mega-airport, which was formally opened by Prime Minister Modi in October.