New Delhi/Bengaluru: Safran Helicopter Engines India (SHEI) gets a new Managing Director. Grp Capt (Retd) Jetendra S Gavankar took over the charge as Managing Director of Safran Helicopter Engines India (SHEI). He succeeds Satish Kirtikar.

SHEI supports the engine maker’s military customers in the Indian armed forces and Coast Guard through its partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Gavankar will lead SHEI businesses and will be responsible for its strategic partnerships with HAL.

Safran’s Shakti / Ardiden 1H1 engine powers HAL’s Dhruv MkIII/MkIV variants and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), while the Ardiden 1U powers the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). Safran TM333 engines power older variants of the Dhruv.

Prior to his appointment as MD, SHEI – Gavankar was the Director Engineering at Honeywell Technologies & Systems. Previously, as VP Strategy and Business Development at Adani Group, he helped establish the company’s Defence & Aerospace business. He has also served with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as Deputy Project Director for the ASTRA Air-to-Air missile programme.

Gavankar is a Indian Air Force veteran and a graduate of the Air Force Technical College, BITS-Pilani and IIM-Ahmedabad.