As India solidifies its position as a catalyst for global growth, as demonstrated at the recent G20 Summit where world leaders expressed their confidence in New Delhi’s rising prominence, Crown Group President Vice Admiral (Retd) Paras Nath foresees a significant boost for India’s defence maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
“World leaders have unanimously acknowledged India’s ascent as a formidable player on the global stage. Most G20 countries are substantial trade partners with India, and many share strategic defence alliances with us. This newfound trust and confidence in our multifaceted capabilities augur well for our domestic defence MRO industry, opening up extensive prospects for MRO in India,” remarked Nath.
He highlighted that the time is ripe to bolster India’s indigenous MRO, and foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) should seize the moment. “Global OEMs seeking reliable partners for equipment maintenance and service in India find it advantageous to collaborate with us. Our world-class facilities and expertise, combined with established partnerships with major international OEMs for MRO of Indian naval, marine, and aviation assets, make Crown Group a preferred choice. Notably, Crown Group is unique in having ex-servicemen from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard at all levels, contributing their valuable experience,” added Nath.
His statement holds significance as G20 nations appear poised to promote India as a hub for defence MRO, creating fresh opportunities for leading MRO player Crown Group, renowned for its comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities across defence equipment.
Crown Group Defence, a long-standing partner to the Indian defence forces for over four decades, has been supporting the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Land and Aviation forces in Marine Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Military Engineering, and Weapon systems. The company offers promising collaboration opportunities for international OEMs to leverage its capabilities and establish defence MRO and manufacturing facilities in alignment with the ‘Make in India’ vision, all while upholding the highest standards of integrity, reliability, and client satisfaction.
Highlighting the multiple advantages of a robust defence MRO sector due to the government’s commitment to strengthening the defence sector, he said, “We will not only create substantial job opportunities domestically but also explore newer avenues abroad. This initiative will reduce our foreign exchange outflow while enhancing cost-effectiveness, turnaround time, and inventory management within our defence establishments.”
He elaborated on Crown Group’s extensive scope of work, encompassing maintenance, modernization, repair, servicing, design, development, manufacturing, and technology partnerships with global OEMs providing defence equipment to the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Crown Group’s Aerospace division companies, ‘Aviatech Enterprises Private Limited’ (AEPL) and ‘Zealtek Enterprises Private Limited’ (ZEPL), maintain technical collaborations with major OEMs, enabling them to deliver top-notch technical services to the Indian armed forces, particularly the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, for a range of equipment supplied by various international OEMs.
Furthermore, Nath emphasized that MRO activities contribute significantly to national security by ensuring continuous readiness of the armed forces, minimizing downtime, and enhancing operational efficiency. He underscored that domestic MRO in the defence sector is a cornerstone of military preparedness, playing a pivotal role in sustaining defence capabilities and safeguarding national interests, ultimately optimizing utilization.