Airbus has awarded Mahindra Aerostructures a multi-year contract to manufacture fuselage skins for the rear fuselage and tail sections of its A320neo Family aircraft, further expanding India’s role in the European manufacturer’s global aerospace supply chain.
Under the contract, Mahindra Aerostructures will manufacture the components at its facility in Bengaluru, India, with the parts to be supplied to the Airbus Aerostructures facility in Augsburg, Germany. Final deliveries are targeted for 2028.
The agreement covers a total of 11 fuselage skins, including eight for Section 18 and three for Section 19 of the A320neo aircraft. The programme will require Mahindra Aerostructures to expand its specialised manufacturing capabilities through investments in advanced chemical milling, surface treatment and stretch-forming production lines.
Stretch-forming capability
One of the key developments under the programme will be the introduction of stretch-forming capability in India. Stretch forming is an important manufacturing process used to produce aircraft skin panels, which form a significant part of an aircraft’s aerostructure. The process enables large metal sheets to be formed accurately to the required aerodynamic contours while maintaining the necessary structural properties.
Mahindra Aerostructures will establish the required manufacturing infrastructure and processes at its Bengaluru facility as part of the programme.
Initial manufacturing engineering activities are already underway. These include tooling design, process-flow updates, qualification and inspection activities ahead of production and final deliveries. The development is expected to add another advanced aerostructure manufacturing capability to India’s growing aerospace industrial base.
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Airbus–Mahindra Partnership
The latest contract builds on a long-standing relationship between Airbus and Mahindra Aerostructures. Mahindra Aerostructures has previously secured contracts to manufacture and assemble the main fuselages of the Airbus H125 and H130 helicopters, in addition to supplying components and sub-assemblies for Airbus commercial aircraft programmes.
The new A320neo fuselage skin programme takes the partnership further into the manufacture of complex structural components for one of Airbus’ largest commercial aircraft families.
Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia, said the agreement demonstrates the precision manufacturing capabilities available in India and supports the company’s efforts to strengthen the country’s role in its global supply chain.
He added that manufacturing complex A320neo components directly from Bengaluru would further deepen India’s aerospace footprint and support the country’s ‘Make in India’ ambitions.
Vinod Sahay, President, Mahindra Aerospace, Advanced Technologies and Trucks & Buses, said the programme represents another step in the company’s longstanding relationship with Airbus.
He said the manufacture of A320 Family fuselage skins requires advanced processes and precision manufacturing at scale, adding that Mahindra will invest in specialised technologies and infrastructure to develop these capabilities in India.
Airbus’ global supply chain
The contract comes as Airbus continues to expand its sourcing activities from India. Airbus currently sources more than $1.6 billion worth of components and services annually from India, including complex aerostructures and assemblies such as aircraft doors and helicopter cabins. The company is targeting more than $2 billion in annual sourcing from India before the end of the decade.
The growing sourcing relationship covers a wide range of aerospace manufacturing activities and highlights India’s increasing importance as a production and engineering base for global aerospace companies.
For Mahindra Aerostructures, the A320neo fuselage skin programme provides an opportunity to strengthen its position within this supply chain while developing specialised manufacturing capabilities that can support future aerospace programmes.
From Bengaluru to Augsburg
The programme creates a direct manufacturing link between Bengaluru and Augsburg, with components produced in India becoming part of Airbus’ European aircraft production network. With qualification, inspection and manufacturing engineering activities already underway, Mahindra Aerostructures is now working towards industrialising the new production capability, with final deliveries scheduled for 2028.
The agreement represents another step in India’s transition from supplying individual aerospace components towards undertaking increasingly complex, high-precision aerostructure manufacturing for global aircraft programmes.
As Airbus continues to expand its Indian sourcing footprint, developments such as the Mahindra Aerostructures programme could further strengthen India’s position as a major aerospace manufacturing and engineering hub.
