- Plans India’s Most Advanced MRO Facility at Devanahalli
By Sangeeta Saxena
New Delhi. 12 May 2025. India’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector is rapidly evolving, driven by rising aircraft traffic, expanding fleet sizes, and policy support for domestic servicing. With initiatives like lower GST on MRO services, a push for public-private collaboration, and growing interest from global OEMs, the Indian MRO landscape is poised for exponential growth. Players like AXISCADES are accelerating this momentum by offering integrated, world-class facilities that reduce dependence on foreign MRO providers and increase operational efficiency for airlines and defence forces alike.
At AeroDef, one of India’s premier aerospace and defence industry gatherings, AXISCADES is showcasing far more than products — it’s revealing a comprehensive roadmap to establish India’s most advanced MRO hub. The company is planning a cutting-edge maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Devanahalli, Karnataka, with six verticals covering drones, missiles, airframes, avionics, radars, and more. In this exclusive interview with Judy Dsouza Associate Vice President Technology & Business Development of AXISCADES shares the vision, capabilities, partnerships, and plans powering this bold initiative.
ADU: Since we are meeting here at AeroDef, what is AXISCADES showcasing?
JUDY DSOUZA : We have a lot to showcase, but our main focus here is MRO — Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul — especially in the aerospace and aviation domains. We’re presenting our upcoming Atmanirbhar Defence Centre in Devanahalli, where we plan to launch a comprehensive MRO operation.
ADU: Can you tell us more about the MRO facility?
JUDY DSOUZA : Yes, it’s an exclusive MRO complex with direct runway access. It will have six verticals — starting with drones, missiles and missile launchers, airframes, avionics, radars, and all aircraft subsystems. We already have hangars planned — six of them — and the Bhoomi Puja was performed last March or April. Base maintenance, line maintenance, and depot-level services are all part of the plan.
ADU: Is it focused only on fixed-wing aircraft?
JUDY DSOUZA : No, it’s for both aircraft and helicopters. In fact, there’s a helipad in place, and our facility is accessible by helicopter. The setup is being designed to handle comprehensive MRO for all types of aerial platforms.
ADU: Have you begun marketing or speaking with OEMs?
JUDY DSOUZA : Absolutely. My senior colleagues are already in France speaking with OEMs. We have also opened a competence centre in Bangalore for missile test benches, supported by MBDA.
ADU: So, MBDA is a confirmed partner?
JUDY DSOUZA : Yes, MBDA is supporting us in depot-level maintenance and missile test benches. We have signed formal MOUs for these. The Centre of Excellence at Devanahalli is also under discussion with MBDA.
ADU: Who else are your strategic collaborators?
JUDY DSOUZA : We’re actively working with Dassault Systems, particularly on airframes. We support them in both design and manufacturing. Our Indian supply chain has over 200 domestic vendors who have been evaluated and onboarded under Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat frameworks.
ADU: What capabilities do you have beyond MRO?
JUDY DSOUZA : We also support the Navy with sonar systems and DF (Direction Finding) equipment. For the Indian Army, we recently delivered 100 anti-drone systems — one of our proudest achievements.
ADU: What about avionics?
JUDY DSOUZA : We develop several advanced avionics subsystems including PCB assemblies, automatic landing systems, and components that have gone into the LCA. Much of this comes through Mistral, which we acquired, and whose brand and clients we continue to retain.
ADU: What is the status of radar technology development?
JUDY DSOUZA : We develop radar subsystems — radar front ends, signal processors, data recorders, cooling systems, and even through-wall radar technology. Over 60% of our products are made in India.
ADU: Are you fulfilling defence offset obligations?
JUDY DSOUZA : Yes, we’ve been offset partners in projects like the Mirage upgrade, missile test benches, and with OEMs like MBDA and Thales.
ADU: When do you expect the Devanahalli MRO operations to begin?
JUDY DSOUZA : We’re working on a two-year timeline, so by 2027, we expect full-scale operations to commence. We’ve already started building infrastructure and engaging clients.
ADU: What training infrastructure are you putting in place?
JUDY DSOUZA : Our Atmanirbhar Defence Centre includes a dedicated training facility. Internal experts and external OEMs like Dassault and MBDA will provide ongoing training to ensure skills match technological requirements.
AXISCADES’ vision for a full-spectrum MRO facility in Devanahalli marks a significant milestone in India’s journey toward self-reliance in aerospace and defence. With robust partnerships, a domestic vendor base, advanced verticals, and dedicated training programs, the company is positioning itself as a comprehensive aerospace solutions provider. As the global MRO market shifts eastward, AXISCADES aims to ensure India is not just a participant, but a leader.
As told to Sangeeta Saxena
