Reliance Defence, promoted by the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure, has formed a strategic partnership with US-based defence contractor Coastal Mechanics to tap into India’s Rs 20,000 crore market for defence maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and upgrade services.
The two companies will jointly offer end-to-end MRO and lifecycle support solutions for the Indian defence forces, covering a wide range of platforms including Jaguar and MiG-29 fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters, L-70 air defence guns, and other legacy systems.
Over 200 aircraft to undergo comprehensive MRO
Under the agreement, Reliance Defence and Coastal Mechanics will provide comprehensive upgrade and sustainment solutions for more than 100 Jaguar fighter jets, over 100 MiG-29s, and the Indian Army’s Apache helicopter fleet.
The collaboration aims to support India’s military transition from replacing aging equipment to upgrading and extending the life of existing platforms through performance-based logistics.
Joint venture at MIHAN to serve domestic and global markets
The companies will also establish a joint venture at MIHAN (Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur) in Maharashtra. This facility will serve both Indian and international markets, delivering MRO and upgrade services for a range of air and land-based defence platforms.
Coastal Mechanics, a long-time vendor to the US Department of Defense (DoD), brings decades of expertise in armament systems, spare parts manufacturing, and reverse engineering. The company is an approved DoD contractor with access to critical technical data and defence-related information.
Boost to Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat
The joint venture comes as Reliance Defence aims to become one of the top three defence exporters from India.
Earlier this month, on June 25, Reliance Defence also secured a Rs 600 crore export order from Germany’s Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH—marking one of the largest high‑tech ammunition deals by a private Indian firm.
In June, it also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Germany’s Diehl Defence to manufacture Vulcano 155 mm precision‑guided artillery munitions in India under the “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives. The project involves setting up a fully‑owned greenfield manufacturing unit in the Watad Industrial Area within the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
Anil Ambani Group stocks surge
Reliance Group stocks are in focus. The share price of Reliance Infrastructure has seen a significant increase over a year. It has 117 per cent in the past year.
The flagship companies, Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Power, are now debt-free and reported a combined net worth and turnover of Rs 33,000 crore each. The group also has a market capitalisation of around Rs 45,000 crore and over 4 million shareholders.