In a significant development for India’s defence industry, Reliance Defence, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, has teamed up with U.S.-based defence contractor Coastal Mechanics Inc. (CMI) to establish an advanced Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Maharashtra. This collaboration aims to enhance air and land defence platforms for the Indian armed forces and international clients, in line with the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
Why in News?
- India’s focus on self-reliant defence production
- Opportunity worth ₹20,000 crore in India’s defence MRO and upgrade market
- Increasing demand for lifecycle support of legacy defence systems
- Coastal Mechanics’ strong reputation with the US Department of Defence
Key Highlights of the Joint Venture
- Location: MIHAN (Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur), Maharashtra
- Partners: Reliance Defence (India) & Coastal Mechanics Inc. (USA)
- Sector: Defence Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and Upgrades
- Target Market: Indian Armed Forces and Export Clients
Focus Areas of the JV
- Upgradation of:
- 100 Jaguar aircraft
- 100 MiG-29 fighter jets
- 20 Apache attack helicopters
- L-70 air defence guns
- Lifecycle modernization over complete replacement of legacy platforms
- Future alignment with Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts via CMI’s existing US defence relationships
About Coastal Mechanics Inc. (CMI)
- Established in 1975
- Contractor to the U.S. Department of Defence
- Supplies components to both U.S. Air Force and Army
India’s Defence Output and Growth
- FY25 defence production: ₹1.46 trillion (15% YoY increase)
- Defence exports: ₹24,000 crore
- MRO segment poised for growth as India extends asset lifecycle and boosts indigenous support capability
Summary/Static Details
- Why in the news? Reliance Infra and Coastal Mechanics Launch Defence MRO Hub in Maharashtra
- JV Partners: Reliance Defence & Coastal Mechanics Inc.
- Facility Location: MIHAN, Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Focus Platforms: Jaguars, MiG-29s, Apaches, L-70 guns
- India’s FY25 Defence Production: ₹1.46 trillion
- India’s MRO Market Size: ₹20,000 crore
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams
- Reliance Defence and Coastal Mechanics Inc. have partnered to establish a cutting-edge MRO facility in Maharashtra
- The joint venture focuses on upgrading air and land defence platforms for Indian armed forces and export clients
- The initiative aligns with the government’s push for indigenous defence capability under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative
- The MRO segment in India is poised for growth with increasing demand for lifecycle support of legacy defence systems
