On November 26, 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility, India’s first global aircraft engine Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) facility built by France based Safran S.A, at the GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park – Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport(RGIA), in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- During the event, he also virtually inaugurated the Infinity Campus of Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited and unveiled Vikram-I, India’s first developed orbital rocket.
Exam Hints:
- What? India’s first global MRO facility of Safran, Skyroot Infinity Campus, Vikram-I were virtually inaugurated
- By: PM Narendra Modi
- SAESI:
- Location: GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park, RGIA, Hyderabad
- Budget: Rs.1,300 Cr (USD 145M)
- Services: LEAP engines (Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX)
- Significance: First global MRO by OEM in India
- Skyroot Infinity Campus: Area: 2,00,000 sq. ft, manufactures 1 orbital rocket/month
- Vikram-I Rocket:
- Height: 20 m, Diameter: 1.7 m, Payload: 300–350 kg to LEO
- 4-stage (3 solid + 1 liquid/hypergolic), 3D-printed engines, carbon-composite body
About Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility:
Overview: SAESI, spanning 45,000 square metres (sq. m) is a modern MRO centre dedicated to servicing Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion (LEAP) engines, which power aircraft such as Airbus A320neo family and Boeing 737 MAX.
Budget: The facility, with a budget outlay of approximately Rs.1300 crores (USD 145 million), is equipped with engine test cells, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, high-precision repair systems, component inspection & overhaul station.
Significance: This facility is the first fully global MRO centre in India built by an engine Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
Capacity Building: The centre will service up to 300 LEAP engines annually by 2035, employ over 1,000 trained engineers and technicians, and become a training ground for advanced engine maintenance.
Alignment: The new facility will reduce foreign exchange outflow, create high-value jobs, and strengthen India’s supply chain, supporting the Government of India (GoI)’s vision of Atmanirbharta in the Aviation sector.
About Skyroot Infinity Campus:
Overview: Skyroot Infinity Campus, spanning approximately 200,000 square feet (sq ft), is a dedicated facility for designing, developing, integrating, and testing rockets.
Capacity: The campus is expected to manufacture one orbital rocket per month, supporting regular and commercial-scale rocket launches.It combines modern manufacturing, testing, and assembly facilities.
About Vikram-I Rocket:
Overview: Vikram-I Rocket, an orbital-class rocket, is approximately 20 metres (m) tall with a diameter of 1.7 (m) and designed to carry a payload of approximately 300-350 kilogram (kg) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Its maiden flight is expected in 2026.
- It is a four-stage vehicle, with the first three stages using solid fuel and the fourth and the upper stage employing liquid or hypergolic fuel for precise orbital insertion.
Significance: The Vikram series, named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian Space Programme, is being developed to tap into the rapidly growing multi-million-dollar small satellite launch market.
Technology: The rocket incorporates advanced technologies, including three dimensional (3D)-printed engines for reduced weight and faster production, a carbon-composite body for strength and efficiency, and advanced avionics for guidance, control, and monitoring.
Target: Vikram-I targets small-satellite missions, including multi-satellite deployments for domestic and international clients, and is capable of rapid assembly and launch, providing enhanced flexibility and turnaround time.
About Skyroot Aerospace: Established in 2018, Skyroot Aerospace marked a major milestone in 2022 by successfully launching Vikram-S, India’s first privately built sub-orbital rocket.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister (CM) – A Revanth Reddy
Governor – Jishnu Dev Varma
Capital – Hyderabad
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Eturnagaram WLS, Shivaram WLS
