Make-In-India: Airbus A220 Aircraft Doors To Be Made In Bengaluru

Giving a significant push to the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Airbus will manufacture and assemble aircraft doors of the A220 family in Bengaluru.

In the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi on Thursday (8 February), It was announced that Airbus and Bengaluru-based Dynamatic Technologies have joined hands to manufacture all doors for the single-aisle A220 family aircraft in India.

The first set of doors will be delivered by early next year, Airbus said.

Talking about the new manufacturing facility, Scindia said, “India is steadily becoming a destination for aerospace manufacturing across the world, the largest order for the aircraft doors to Dynamatic technologies which is already working with Airbus is a great moment in Prime Minister’s resolve for Make in India."

Talking about Airbus’ contribution in the Make in India mission, he said, “The company is already exporting made-in-India products worth $750 million and aims to double it in the next year or so.

"From India Information Management Center to Airbus India Innovation Center to a pilot training center, there has been a tremendous investment both in technology transfer as well as human resource development in India by Airbus. Also, I thank Airbus for strengthening the Indo-France ties,” he said.

Elaborating on the government’s efforts vis-à-vis the aviation industry, Scindia said, “We reached a new high of 1100 commercial pilot licenses that we have given out and we are very committed along that path of developing the human resource potential within India.”

A220 is ideally suited for India's UDAN with a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 kilometres) and seating capacity ranging from 100 to 160 passengers, the A220 is ideally suited for India's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and promoting economic growth across the nation.

The Dynamatic Technologies manufacturing facility of all doors for the single-aisle A220 family aircraft will offer an incredible opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter a technology-intensive and highly competitive aviation industry.

Additionally, it will elevate domestic manufacturing capabilities leading to reduced import dependence and increased exports. India is witnessing a transformation into a global manufacturing hub supported by progression in the value chain under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.

This is the second contract for doors, awarded by Airbus to an Indian supplier. For the first time, an Indian company will do system integration work for an Airbus aircraft.

Earlier in 2023, Airbus gave the contract for the manufacturing of bulk and cargo doors of the A320 Family to Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, to collaborate on the replacement of the Indian Airforce’s fleet of Avro-748 aircraft with reliable and robust Airbus C295 medium transport aircrafts.

The project, worth roughly $3 billion, entails supply of 56 aircrafts to the Indian Airforce.

Pro-business policies of the government are helping India become a more and more prominent aerospace manufacturing country. Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the final assembly line of A220 aircraft at Mirabel in May 2022.

Today, every Airbus commercial aircraft and every Airbus helicopter has critical technologies and systems designed, manufactured, and maintained in India. Airbus in partnership with the local manufacturers supports nearly 10,000 jobs in India. By 2025, this number is likely to rise to about 15,000. With this, Airbus will double its procurement from India from $750 million to $1.5 billion in the future.

Giving a fillip to the government of India’s ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ vision, Airbus earlier signed contracts with Aequs, Dynamatic, Gardner and Mahindra Aerospace for the supply of airframe and wing parts across Airbus’ A320neo, A330neo and A350 programs.

In 2022, laying the foundation stone of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing plant in Vadodara, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is moving forward with the mantra of ‘Make in India, Make for the World.’

This collaboration will create a downstream value chain for detailed parts to be manufactured by other Indian suppliers. This landmark decision marks one of the largest export contracts for an Indian aerospace manufacturing company to date.