AAI and Apogee Aerospace collaborate to advance amphibious aviation in India

Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI) and Apogee Aerospace have entered into a strategic collaboration to establish amphibious aviation as a critical capability for India, centred on the Albatross 2.0 amphibious aircraft platform.

The Albatross 2.0 is the world’s first FAA- or EASA-certified transport-category amphibious aircraft above 19 seats, with a capacity of up to 28 seats, approved for registered passenger transport operations.

As part of the partnership, Apogee Aerospace has been appointed AAI’s exclusive authorised representative for the Indian subcontinent in the restricted category, covering defence and government requirements.

The collaboration spans maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), training and capability development, simulation, end-to-end systems integration for aircraft militarisation, and the establishment of tail-section manufacturing in India to support AAI’s global supply chain.

Commenting on the partnership, Khoa Hoang, executive chairman, and Gopi Reddy, president and CEO of AAI, said that the Albatross 2.0 offers a fully certified transport-category platform that can immediately address the needs of India’s military, paramilitary forces, government agencies, and strategic civil aviation. They added that partnering with Apogee enables a deeper focus on industrialisation, systems integration, skills development, and long-term sovereign capability beyond aircraft delivery.

Under the agreement, Apogee Aerospace has placed an order for 15 Albatross 2.0 aircraft, representing an estimated programme value of Rs 3,500 crore. The company will also invest up to Rs 500 crore to set up tail-section manufacturing, MRO facilities, training and simulation infrastructure, and advanced systems integration capabilities in India.

Through the collaboration, AAI and Apogee aim to position India as a global hub for amphibious aircraft manufacturing, sustainment, training, and exports, aligned with the country’s long-term operational, industrial, and export objectives.

Led by MVN Sai, Apogee Aerospace is an Indian aerospace and defence company focused on advanced aviation platforms, systems integration, and lifecycle support for defence, government, and strategic civil applications. AAI is a global FAA-certified aerospace original equipment manufacturer specialising in modern amphibious aircraft for military, civil, private, and government use worldwide.