GE and Tata Group have commenced construction of a new Structural Centre of Excellence (COE) facility in Telangana, India, to produce aero-engine components.

The COE will feature new technologies from GE and will produce complex high-precision aero-engine components for the CFM LEAP engine programme.

Facility construction is part of a strategic partnership signed last November between GE Aviation and Tata Group’s aerospace and defence division Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) to manufacture, assemble, integrate and test aircraft components.

“Tata Group’s partnership with GE will boost the domestic manufacturing expertise, and enhance the capabilities of the group in the global aerospace industry.”

TASL will serve as the new COE, which is being built in Adibatla, Hyderabad, Telangana.

Tata Sons infrastructure, defence and aerospace president Banmali Agrawala said: “Tata Group’s partnership with GE will boost the domestic manufacturing expertise, and enhance the capabilities of the group in the global aerospace industry.

“We look forward to developing a resilient ecosystem through this collaboration that will help both companies to strengthen manufacturing expertise in the country.

“This investment will create highly skilled jobs and develop a high-end supply chain that will offer a globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem in India.”

Development of the COE is also expected to help TASL to expand its presence into other GE product lines available for both commercial and military engines in the future.

GE currently supplies its jet engines and marine gas turbines for various Indian military applications such as the Air Force Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas Mk 1, Indian Navy P-8I aircraft, and P-17 Shivalik class frigates, among others.

The company also operates technology centres in Bengaluru and Hyderabad to help create high-tech research capabilities across India.