Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt. Ltd. (MASPL) has been awarded a significant contract by Airbus to manufacture and supply fuselage skins for the popular A320 family of aircraft. This agreement marks a substantial step forward for India's aspirations to become a prominent global aerospace manufacturing hub.
Under the new contract, the Mahindra Group company will produce critical aerostructure components at its Bengaluru facility. These parts are destined for the A320neo and A321XLR aircraft models, with finished components being shipped to Airbus's manufacturing plant in Augsburg, Germany. This deal not only expands Mahindra Aerostructures' integration into Airbus's global supply chain but also reinforces the advanced manufacturing capabilities being developed within India.
Advancing India's Aerospace Manufacturing Capabilities
The contract reflects India's strategic move to evolve beyond supplying smaller aerospace components, aiming instead to establish capabilities for producing increasingly complex aircraft structures. Specifically, Mahindra will manufacture eight fuselage skins for Section 18 and three for Section 19, which cover parts of the aircraft’s rear fuselage and tail sections.
This initiative is also expected to drive further investment in specialized aerospace manufacturing technologies across India. Mahindra Aerostructures plans to set up advanced production lines dedicated to chemical milling, surface treatment, and stretch forming as part of a multi-year industrialization program. Engineering activities, including tooling design, process-flow updates, qualification, and inspection, are already underway, with initial deliveries targeted for 2028. This program aligns with Mahindra Aerostructures' broader strategy to progressively manufacture larger fuselage sections within India.
Strengthening a Long-Standing Partnership
Vinod Sahay, President of Mahindra Aerospace, Advanced Technologies and Trucks & Buses, emphasized the significance of the agreement. “This marks another important step in our longstanding relationship with Airbus and further strengthens Mahindra Aerostructures’ role in the global aerospace supply chain,” Sahay stated. He added that manufacturing A320 family fuselage skins demands advanced process capabilities and precision at scale, affirming that investments in specialized technologies and infrastructure will build critical capabilities in India to support Airbus’s requirements.
Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, also lauded the new contract, highlighting India's precision engineering capabilities. “We are delighted to expand our long-standing partnership with Mahindra Aerostructures as we continue to strengthen India’s role in our global supply chain. This contract for the manufacturing of the A320 family fuselage skins is a testament to the world-class precision engineering capabilities present in the country,” Westermeier commented.
Airbus's Growing Engagement with Indian Industry
Airbus has consistently increased its aerospace manufacturing collaborations with Indian companies over recent years. In 2016, Mahindra Aerostructures became the first Indian company to secure a direct Tier-1 manufacturing contract from Airbus Helicopters for AS565 MBe Panther airframe parts. More recently, in 2023, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) won a contract to manufacture A320neo cargo doors. Furthermore, Aequs, Dynamatic Technologies, Gardner, and Mahindra Aerostructures all received contracts for components across Airbus’s A320neo, A330neo, and A350 programs. In 2024, TASL and Mahindra Aerostructures secured additional work for metallic parts and assemblies, underscoring Airbus's annual procurement from India, which is valued at approximately $750 million.