- Civil–Defence Aviation Synergy To Take Centre Stage
- Future of Aviation Maintenance and Logistics to be Debated
- From Smart Maintenance to Defence MRO to be brainstormed
By Sangeeta Saxena
New Delhi. 04 March 2026. The countdown to MRO South Asia Summit 2026 has officially begun, setting the stage for one of the region’s most influential gatherings of aviation maintenance leaders, defence experts, policymakers, and global aerospace players. As the aviation industry in South Asia enters a phase of unprecedented fleet expansion and operational growth, the summit promises to become a critical platform for shaping the future of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), defence aviation support, digital maintenance systems, aerospace logistics, and aircraft interiors. With top leadership from the Indian Armed Forces, government, airlines, MRO providers, and global aerospace companies set to converge in New Delhi, the event will drive conversations on safety, innovation, indigenisation, and the next generation of aviation maintenance capabilities. The stage is set, the industry is ready, and the countdown to South Asia’s premier aviation maintenance dialogue has begun.
The 7th Aerospace & Defence MRO South Asia Summit 2026, co-located with MRO XPO India, Aircraft Interiors India and MRO India Defence XPO, is set to convene leading voices from aviation, defence, industry and policy on March 11–12, 2026 at the India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC), Dwarka, New Delhi. The two-day summit will serve as a premier platform to discuss the future of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), digital transformation, aerospace logistics, leasing economics, defence MRO capabilities and the evolution of aircraft interiors.
The summit will open with a ceremonial lamp lighting inauguration by distinguished dignitaries including Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Hon’ble Governor of Goa and Former Union Civil Aviation Minister, Air Marshal Sanjiv Ghuratia, AVSM, VSM, PhD, Air Officer-in-Command Maintenance, Indian Air Force, Lt Gen Rajiv Kumar Sahni, AVSM, VSM, PhD, Director General Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Saket Chaturvedi, CEO, HAL, S.K. Dash, Chief Technical Officer, Air India, Harpreet Singh, Group Chief IMS, Air India, and R.K. Patra, Editor-in-Chief, Aerospace Media Group.
The summit will begin with keynote addresses focusing on the evolving synergy between civil and defence aviation maintenance. Air Marshal Sanjiv Ghuratia will deliver the defence keynote outlining the importance of maintenance readiness in sustaining operational capability, while Shri Sanjeev Kumar (IAS), Secretary Defence Production, and Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu are expected to address India’s rapidly expanding MRO ecosystem and the policy framework supporting it. A special address by Hon’ble Governor of Goa Shri Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju will highlight the strategic importance of aviation infrastructure and maintenance capabilities for national growth.
It will feature a series of high-level business sessions addressing key themes shaping the aviation maintenance ecosystem. Business Session 1 will feature, “Strong MRO, Safer Skies” and will examine how regulatory oversight, global best practices, skilled manpower and quality frameworks contribute to aviation safety. Industry leaders from the Indian Air Force, Air India, HAL, Boeing, HAECO, and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise will discuss strengthening maintenance reliability and operational safety.
Business Session 2 will deliberate “Leasing, PBH & the Economics of Maintenance”, supported by SkyPulse Solutions IFSC, will explore the evolving economics of aviation maintenance in an era dominated by leasing models and power-by-the-hour agreements. Experts from the aviation, legal and financial sectors will analyse asset lifecycle management, risk-sharing frameworks and cost predictability across the aviation value chain.
The focus will then shift to the operational backbone of aviation maintenance in Business Session 3 – “Aerospace Logistics: The Backbone of MRO Readiness.” Industry experts will discuss the role of spare parts availability, supply chain resilience, digital tracking, and regional distribution hubs in reducing aircraft-on-ground (AOG) downtime and improving maintenance turnaround times.
Day Two will explore emerging trends shaping the future of aviation and defence maintenance. Business Session 4 will analyse, “The New Era of Defence MRO” and will examine how lifecycle management, indigenisation, and public-private partnerships are strengthening India’s defence aviation maintenance capabilities. Leaders from the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and aerospace industry will discuss strategies to enhance operational readiness and strategic autonomy.
Digital transformation will take centre stage in Business Session 5 discussing “Digital MRO & Smart Maintenance Systems.” This session will highlight the role of predictive analytics, AI-driven diagnostics, digital twins, blockchain-enabled records and integrated MRO platforms in transforming maintenance operations into proactive, data-driven systems.
The evolving role of aircraft interiors in airline competitiveness will be discussed in Business Session 6 – “Cabin Evolution and the New Economics of Aircraft Interiors.” Experts will explore cabin retrofits, certification challenges, sustainability considerations and how modern interiors are becoming central to passenger experience and airline brand identity.
The summit will conclude with Business Session 7 titled “HR Strategies for a Future-Ready MRO Workforce,” focusing on talent development, training requirements, digital skill integration and workforce planning. Industry leaders will address the global shortage of licensed engineers and technicians and discuss strategies for building a resilient MRO workforce capable of supporting rapid aviation growth.
Alongside the conference, the MRO XPO exhibition will showcase cutting-edge solutions, technologies and services from global aerospace companies, providing participants with opportunities for networking, collaboration and business engagement. The event will culminate with a Gala Award Night and Dinner, recognising excellence and innovation across the aviation maintenance ecosystem.
With aviation traffic in South Asia projected to grow significantly over the next decade, the Aerospace & Defence MRO South Asia Summit 2026 aims to bring together policymakers, military leaders, airlines, lessors, MRO providers and technology innovators to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in aviation maintenance. By fostering dialogue on safety, digitalisation, defence readiness, logistics, workforce development and economic sustainability, the summit is expected to play a critical role in shaping the future of the region’s aviation maintenance ecosystem.
