Safran Aircraft Engines plans to build a new plant in Hyderabad to make parts for the LEAP turbofan engine from Safran/GE joint venture CFM International.

Supported by the Telangana State, Safran will invest €36m in the 13,000m² facility, including 8,000m² of workshops, in the Special Economic Zone of GMR near Hyderabad airport. Construction is set to kick off in June 2019, and will aim at delivering the building and producing the first parts in early 2020.

The plant will have about 50 employees by the end of the year to launch operations, and will reach a workforce of 300. All employees will benefit from a complete training programme. The plant will be based on Safran's highest standards for industrial processes and machinery, including real-time monitoring of production parameters, and the latest integrated inspection methods.

When the plant hits cruise speed in 2023, output is scheduled to ramp up to 15,000 parts per year to support the LEAP's sustained production rate. CFM is set to deliver 1,800 engines this year, rising to 2,000 starting in 2020.

This latest project follows the announcement last year of a Safran Electrical & Power factory to produce LEAP engines harnesses and Rafale fighter electrical wiring interconnections systems. Also located in the Special Economic Zone, this 4,000m² factory will be delivered by mid-2019 and will employ 250 people.