Amphibian Aerospace, Apogee Aerospace Reveal Major ₹500-Crore Funding

Amphibian Aerospace Industries and Apogee Aerospace have announced a strategic collaboration to introduce and industrialise the Albatross 2.0 amphibious aircraft in India. The programme starts with a firm order of 15 aircraft worth around ₹3,500 crore and includes planned investments of up to ₹500 crore to develop manufacturing, maintenance, systems integration, and training infrastructure in the country.

Wg Cdr MVN Sai (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of Apogee Aerospace, said the initiative responds to a clear operational need. “Engagements with prospective customers in the restricted category over the past two years indicate a distinct operational gap that amphibious aviation can fill,” he said. “In the first phase itself, services require 20 to 30 aircraft to familiarise crews, develop standard operating procedures, and formalise amphibious mission doctrines.”

Currently, India relies on a combination of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, naval vessels, and surface transport to execute missions such as coastal security, island logistics, disaster response, and surveillance. These operations often demand substantial ground or port infrastructure and coordinated deployment across multiple platforms.

The Albatross 2.0 consolidates these capabilities into a single transport-category aircraft capable of operating from both land and open sea, including wave heights of six to eight feet. It can carry up to 28 passengers and is the only FAA or EASA-certified transport-category amphibious aircraft above 19 seats in the Registered Passenger Transport sector.

“Albatross is a force multiplier like no other, fundamentally redefining the point of launch and recovery of air power,” Sai said. “This capability provides India with strategic insurance to maintain its status as one of the world’s leading economies through assured control of its Sea Lanes of Communication.”

With over 7,500 kilometres of coastline and multiple island territories across the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, India stands to benefit from the aircraft’s infrastructure-independent operational reach, enhancing both strategic and logistical flexibility.